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History up to Date 

A Concise Account of 

The War of 1898 between the United 
States and Spain 


Its Causes and The Treaty of Paris 



William A. Johnston 


New York 

A. S. Barnes and Company 

1899 , 

L • 





29998 


Copyright, 1899, 

By A. S. Barnes and Company. 


/ 



'WO COPIES RECf.IVtD, 


£ APR 21 1899 ; 


SEntberstttr ^ress: 

John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A. 


% 03 
►. a a 




PREFACE 

T his book is a concise account of the birth of a new 
era in the United States. It is a record of the dying 
moments of the Monroe Doctrine, the spirit that for 
more than one hundred years inspired the civic body 
born in the Revolution of the American Colonies of 
Great Britain near the end of the last century. It is 
the narrative of the entrance of a new spirit into that 
civic body while in the throes of war with Spain. 
This book contains a succinct account of the War 
of 1898 between Spain and the United States, the 
causes of the war, and the treaty by which it was 
ended,— the greatest war of a century, in its results 
if not in its events. 

From a naval and military viewpoint, the Hispano- 
American War amounts to comparatively little. Its 
land battles, in other wars, would have been called 
skirmishes. Its naval battles were too unequal to 
fully demonstrate the utility and powers of resistance 


v 


Preface 


of modern armor-clads. In point of mortality on 
land and sea there has seldom been a less bloody war. 
Gianibelli’s fireship sent from the beleaguered Ant¬ 
werp against the Prince of Parma’s bridge killed 
more men in one minute than were lost by both 
Spaniards and Americans. 

This war, it is true, resulted in Spain being driven 
from the vicinity of the Americas and in the rich 
Philippine Islands being wrested from her grasp, but 
these results are mere incidents to the real outcome 
of the war. The war found the United States of 
America a thriving young republic, a healthy boy who 
had never been away from home; the war left the 
young republic one of the great powers of the world, 
a full-grown man gone forth in search for adventures. 

The importance that the events of 1898 must 
necessarily have on the future history of the world is 
more than sufficient excuse for offering this book to 
the public. The colonial policy of the United States, 
the American influence in the far East, the drawing 
together of the two great Anglo-Saxon nations, Great 
Britain and the United States, must henceforth be 
leading topics in politics, literature, statesmanship. 

It is not the importance of the events of the war 
vi 


Preface 


themselves, but their relation to the destiny of the 
United States and to the history of the century to 
come, that renders their accurate preservation valuable 
to every patriotic citizen of the nation that has just 
been born again. 

Some of the facts contained in this volume have al¬ 
ready found many readers under the caption “ History 
up to Date” in the “Evening Telegram,” but much 
new matter has been added, and the whole work care¬ 
fully revised and to a large extent rewritten. The 
author’s thanks are due the “New York Herald” for 
the use of photographs collected by its war corre¬ 
spondents for illustrative purposes. 

W. A. J. 


New York, January 15, 1899. 


vii 



Contents 

Chapter Page 

I. When and why the War began ... i 
II. American Interest in Cuba .... 5 

III*. The Rebellions in Cuba. 9 

IV. The Insurrection of 1895 . . . . 13 

V. Weyler and Reconcentration ... 16 

VI. Attitude of United States .... 19 

VII. Efforts to avert War.23 

VIII. Destruction of the “Maine” ... 26 

IX. The “Maine” Investigation ... 30 

X. The De Lome Incident.34 

XI. Preparations for War begun ... 38 

XII. The “Maine” Courtis Report . . 43 

XIII. Demands made on Spain.47 

XIV. Action of the Powers.51 

XV. President McKinley’s Message ... 55 

XVI. Reports of Cuban Consuls .... 58 

XVII. Diplomatic Relations severed . . . 61 

XVIII. Cuban Coast blockaded.65 


IX 






Contents 


Chapter 

XIX. 

War formally declared 




Page 

7 1 

XX. 

First Moves of War 




76 

XXI. 

The Philippine Islands . 




81 

XXII. 

The Battle of Cavite . 




86 

XXIII. 

Cavite Arsenal seized . 




94 

XXIV. 

Spain’s Many Troubles 




99 

XXV. 

New Cabinet formed . 




103 

XXVI. 

Changes in Washington 




107 

XXVII. 

Incidents of the Blockade 




112 

XXVIII. 

Matanzas, Cardenas, Cienfuegos 



116 

XXIX. 

Cervera at Santiago 




122 

XXX. 

Hobson’s Heroic Deed . 




127 

XXXI. 

Fighting at Guantanamo . 




i 33 

XXXII. 

Funds for Hostilities . 




140 

XXXIII. 

The Seizure of Guam . 




H 4 

XXXIV. 

Aguinaldo’s Victories . 




H 9 

XXXV. 

Bombardments of Santiago 




1 53 

XXXVI. 

The Shafter Expedition . 




160 

XXXVII. 

Battle of Las Guasimas 




167 

XXXVIII. 

The Advance on Santiago 




174 

XXXIX. 

Caney and San Juan Hill . 




180 

XL. 

Results of the Battle 




186 

XLI. 

Cervera’s Fleet destroyed 




i 93 

XLII. 

The Chase of the “Colon 

y y 



201 

XLIII. 

Surrender of Santiago 




207 


X 







Contents 


Chapter 



Page 

XLIV. 

Santiago an American City . 


. 21 4 

XLV. 

The Fleet of Camara . 


219 

XLVI. 

Campaign in Porto Rico . 


224 

XLVII. 

The Fall of Manila . 


228 

XLVIII. 

Spain sues for Peace 


■ 233 

XLIX. 

Outcome of the War . 


• 239 

L. 

The Treaty of Paris . 


242 

APPENDIX. — Text of the Treaty . 


. 247 


XI 










































































HISTORY UP TO DATE 

¥- 

CHAPTER I 

WHEN AND WHY THE WAR BEGAN 

War between the monarchy of Spain and the 
republic of the United States began about the 
end of the month of April, 1898. A formal 
declaration of war was made by Spain on Sun¬ 
day, April 24. The Congress of the United 
States the next day, at the request of President 
McKinley, passed a bill declaring that a state 
of war had existed between the United States 
and Spain from and including April 21, 1898. 

Before these formal declarations both nations 
had been expecting and preparing for hostili¬ 
ties. There had been no love lost between 
the two countries for many months. A United 
States war-ship had been blown up in the harbor 
of Havana, arousing the people of the United 
States almost to fury. President McKinley 
had announced his intention of intervening to 
end the war Spain was waging against the 


History up to Date 

rebels in Cuba. This had aroused the wrath 
of the people and government of Spain. 

The causes which led to the war, summarized 
briefly, were: — 

Spain’s cruel methods of waging war on the Cuban 
insurgents, who had many relatives and sympathizers 
Causes of in the United States. 

the War The imprisonment and killing of Ameri¬ 
can citizens and the destruction of American property 
in Cuba. 

The blowing up of the United States battle-ship 
w Maine ” in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. 

American indignation at the system of reconcen¬ 
tration put in practice in Cuba by General Weyler, 
which resulted in many non-combatants being starved 
to death. 

Great damage to American trade with Cuba and 
serious losses to American merchants as a result of 
the insurrection which Spain seemed powerless to 
suppress. 

The Hispano-American war has been called 
a war of sentiment and a war of humanity, but 
A Matter it cannot be denied that to a certain 
of Dollars ex tent it was a matter of dollars. 
While undoubtedly the principles of liberty 
for which their forefathers fought had much 
to do with the desire of the people of the 


When and Why the War Began 

United States to see Cuba freed from the 
dominion of Spain, their interest in the matter 
was by no means an unselfish one. 

The failure of Spain to suppress the rebellion 
begun in Cuba in 1895 put the government of 
the United States to considerable direct and 
indirect expense. Large amounts were ex¬ 
pended in policing the Atlantic and Gulf coasts 
to prevent filibustering expeditions which had 
been fitted out in the United States from getting 
away from American ports. 

The Congress of the United States in May, 
1897, appropriated $50,000 to be expended by 
the American consuls in Cuba for the relief 
of American citizens on the island whom the war 
had reduced to abject poverty. In addition to 
this it was estimated that the war had resulted 
in the destruction of American property to the 
value of $10,000,000. 

To these direct expenses laid upon the 
United States were added other and greater 
expenses or losses attributable to the state of 
war existing in the island. The extensive trade 
that existed between the United States and 
Cuba before the war began, shrank almost to 
nothing. There were no indications that Cuban 
trade would improve until the Cubans were 
3 


History up to Date 

conquered or the Spaniards driven from the 
island. Many business houses in the United 
States with branches in Cuba or with large 
interests there, unable to collect their accounts, 
were forced to assign. 

The sugar crop in Cuba, which in 1895 
had been valued at $70,000,000, for the season 
of 1896—7 amounted to only $14,000,000. 
The tobacco product of normal times, about 
$ 15,000,000, had shrunk to $3,000,000. Trade 
with the United States had suffered to a still 
greater extent. Before the insurrection began, 
the annual imports from Cuba into the United 
States amounted to $75,000,000, but after the 
war began they fell off to less than one million 
dollars. Before 1895 the United States had 
been exporting to Cuba every year goods 
valued at more than $30,000,000. In 1896 
the exports from the United States were hardly 
$7,000,000. 

With such a condition of affairs the business 
men of America were naturally desirous of 
seeing the Cuban question speedily settled 
once and for all. They saw better business 
opportunities with a “ Cuba Libre ” than with 
a Cuba burdened by Spanish tax-gatherers and 
bound by tariffs, restrictive except with Spain. 

4 


CHAPTER II 


AMERICAN INTEREST IN CUBA 

Christopher Columbus, on his first voyage 
in 1492, discovered the island of Cuba, over 
which Spain and the United States four cen¬ 
turies later came to blows. The Spaniards 
called the island in succession Juana, Fernan- 
dina, Santiago, and Ave Maria, but the name 
by which the Indians knew it before the advent 
of the Spaniards was the name that survived. 

The island, with several small islands along 
its coasts, contains about forty-five thousand 
Some Facts square miles. It is about seven 
about Cuba hundred and thirty miles long and 
averages about seventy miles in width. It lies 
almost due east and west a little to the south 
of the peninsula of Florida. Havana, the cap¬ 
ital, on the.north coast, is the principal city. 
Other cities on the north coast are Bahia 
Honda, Mariel, Cardenas, Matanzas, and 
Neuvitas. On the south coast are the 
cities of Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, and 
Guantanamo. 


5 


History up to Date 

Richly blessed with mineral and vegetable 
products, despite an unhealthy tropical cli¬ 
mate, Cuba for many years before it had been 
laid waste by war was a veritable treasure-house 
for Spain. Copper mines, forests of mahog- 
any, groves of oranges and coffee plantations, 
helped swell the coffers of Spanish grandees, and 
many Cuban families amassed great wealth. 

Sugar and tobacco have, however, always 
been the chief sources of Cuba's wealth. A 
large proportion of the peasantry found employ¬ 
ment in the cane fields. Havana tobacco and 
Havana cigars became known the world over. 

The law of contiguity made it to be expected 
that the interests of the United States and 
Cuba should be closely allied. In many rela¬ 
tions the republic and the island were more 
closely bound together than Cuba was to the 
mother country. While it took days to reach 
Cuba’s capital from Cadiz, from Key West to 
Havana was a sail of only a few hours. Many 
citizens of the United States went to Cuba to 
engage in trade. Many natives of Cuba be¬ 
came residents of the United States. The 
United States sent Cuba things to eat and wear; 
Cuba sent the United States tobacco and sugar. 

Always jealous of European interference or 
6 


American Interest in Cuba 

influence on this side of the Atlantic, it was 
Efforts to only natural that the young republic 
purchase should early look with covetous 
eyes toward Cuba. As far back as 
1823, when the Holy Alliance threatened to 
aid Spain in reclaiming her revolted colonies in 
the Americas, strong declarations were made 
by the United States. In 1848, when the 
South was anxious to acquire more slave terri¬ 
tory, President Polk offered Spain ten million 
dollars for Cuba, but Spain refused to part with 
the island. 

Various propositions looking to the purchase 
of Cuba were thereafter advanced from time to 
time, the most recent being the offer of an 
international syndicate, but all of them were 
without result. The attitude of the United 
States since the middle of the century can be 
summarized thus : — 

The people openly sympathizing and surreptitiously 
aiding the Cubans in their efforts to gain freedom ; 

The government, virtually resenting Spain’s rule 
and war in Cuba, but actually endeavoring to prevent 
filibustering expeditions being fitted out in the United 
States. 

More than one President, while criticising 
Spain's course in his messages to Congress, 
7 


History up to Date 

took stern measures to prevent United States 
citizens from aiding the Cubans. Such was the 
situation when in 1895 there was begun in Cuba 
an insurrection, the legitimate outgrowth of a 
series of efforts on the part of Cuba to follow 
the example of other Spanish colonies in 
America. 


8 


CHAPTER III 


THE REBELLIONS IN CUBA 

For two centuries and more after Columbus 
discovered America Spain gradually gained 
control by conquest of a large portion of the 
Western Hemisphere, but when the tide turned 
her American possessions passed from her 
more rapidly than she had won them. Florida, 
Mexico, and South America slipped from her 
grasp, until, in 1898, she held only Cuba and 
Porto Rico. 

Spain’s hold on Cuba ever since 1820 had 
been precarious. When South America’s 
Revolutions Washington, General Bolivar, freed 
frequent South America, efforts had been made 
to include Cuba, but unsuccessfully. From 
that time on every few years, in particular 
from 1848 to 1854, a revolution was attempted. 

A few years before the rebellion in the 
United States, when the slave States foresaw 
the need of more votes in Congress, a move¬ 
ment began in the Southern States of the 
Union, looking toward the annexation of Cuba. 

9 


History up to Date 

The island, rich in sugar and tobacco, slave 
territory, too, would have been valuable to the 
South’s ambitions. Narciso Lopez, with a 
citizen of Kentucky named Crittenden, led one 
expedition from New Orleans into Cuba, but it 
was a failure, and there the matter ended. 

The most important rebellion in Cuba, 
prior to 1895, was the one Cespedes began in 
1868, which lasted ten years. With Cespedes 
were associated General Maximo Gomez and 
General Ouesada. A provisional government 
for the Cuban republic was formed in 1869. 
Cespedes became President, and Quesada com¬ 
mander-in-chief of the Cuban army. The 
latter, toward the end of the ten years’ fighting, 
was succeeded by General Thomas Jordan, 
who had been on General Beauregard’s staff 
in the Confederate army. 

The Cuban rebellion of 1868 was planned 
in New York, and the rebels received much 
aid from residents of the United States. The 
Washington government did not, however, 
recognize the Cuban republic, although some 
of the South American republics did. 

Many filibustering expeditions were fitted 
out in the United States, and out of one of 
these arose the famous “ Virginius ” affair. 


The Rebellions in Cuba 

The “ Virginius,” flying the stars and stripes, 
with a party of filibusters on board, was cap- 
Capture of the tured by a Spanish war-ship in 
“ Virginius” British waters, near Jamaica. The 
vessel was taken to Santiago, on the south 
coast of Cuba, and fifty-three of the prisoners 
taken were shot in the public square, some of 
them after ten-minute trials. 

As Spain had no right to seize the “ Virgin- 
ius ” in British waters, a British man-of-war hur¬ 
ried to Santiago. Her commander announced 
his intention of bombarding the city if another 
prisoner was shot. More British and some 
American war-ships arrived, and the Spanish 
authorities delivered the survivors of the 
cc Virginius ” expedition into their hands. 

This rebellion was ended in 1878 by a treaty, 
after the Cubans had been greatly weakened by 
privation and lack of ammunition. 

During this rebellion General Calixto Garcia 
had been captured and sent to a Spanish prison. 
Escaping, he came to New York in 1880, 
where, with Jose Marti, he planned another 
revolution. They went to Cuba, but after six 
months decided the country was not ready to 
revolt. In 1884 General Gomez and General 
Maceo visited the United States and en- 


History up to Date 

deavored to obtain aid in freeing Cuba, but 
unsuccessfully. 

This practically ended the rebellions in Cuba 
until February, 1895, when the revolutionary 
movement began which led to war between 
Spain and the United States. 


CHAPTER IV 


THE INSURRECTION OF 1895 

Oppressed by Spain, unrepresented in Madrid, 
with Spanish officers enriching themselves by 
extortion in Cuba, with no native Cuban hold¬ 
ing any position of importance in the insular 
government, the Cubans, early in 1895, plotted 
another revolt from Spain. The revolution¬ 
ists established headquarters in New York. 
The president of the revolutionary party was 
Jose Marti, the secretary Gonzalo de Quesada, 
and the treasurer Benjamin F. Guerra. Promi¬ 
nent in this Cuban Junta was Tomas Estrada 
Palma, who later was made the delegate of the 
Cuban provisional government to the United 
States. 

The leaders of the revolution were men of 
education and ability. Marti, who had been 
Leaders of twice banished from Cuba, was a 
the Cubans doctor of laws. He had held a uni¬ 
versity professorship, had written books, and 
had been consul in New York for several of 
the South American countries. Gonzalo de 
?3 


History up to Date 

Quesada was a graduate of Columbia Univer¬ 
sity, and a practising lawyer. Benjamin F. 
Guerra was a wealthy merchant of New York. 

Marti, with General Maximo Gomez, left 
New York for Cuba in the first week of 
February, 1895. Insurrectionists in the island 
had been informed of their coming and were 
only waiting for their arrival to acknowledge 
General Gomez as commander in chief of the 
insurgent forces. General Julio Sanguily 
headed the rebels in Matanzas province. 
General Moncada the rebels of the eastern 
provinces, and General Calixto Garcia com¬ 
manded still another force. The uprising 
came five days before the end of February, the 
insurgent forces in various parts of the island 
taking the field on the same day. A declara¬ 
tion of Cuban independence was issued on 
Feb. 24, 1895. 

No sooner had the revolution begun than 
filibustering expeditions from the United States 
Filibuster- started, landing in Cuba arms, ammu- 
ing Expe- nition, and supplies, and even rein- 
dmom forcements for the Cuban army. The 
“ Competitor/’ the “ Dauntless,” the “ Silver 
Heels ” and several other coasting vessels made 
repeated trips to Cuba. The “ Competitor” was 


The Insurrection of 1895 

the only one of these vessels ever captured, and 
so helpless did Spain seem to be in defending 
the coasts of Cuba that Captain “Johnny” 
O’Brien, one of the most daring of the fili¬ 
busters, declared that if it was not for the pre¬ 
cautions taken by the United States he would 
advertise regular dates of sailing. 

The success of these expeditions, particularly 
that of the “ Silver Heels ” in October, 1897, 
aroused much bitter feeling in Spain. One of 
the Madrid newspapers asserted that “ the 
hypocritical complicity and notorious stupidity 
of Mr. McKinley’s officials serve as a screen 
to actions that constitute an offence and an 
attack on our sovereignty in Cuba.” In reply 
to this Mr. John D. Long, Secretary of the 
Navy, pointed out that the United States had 
expended about $ 2 , 000,000 in efforts to stop 
filibustering. 

While the government of Spain doubtless 
realized that the United States was doing all 
that it could be expected to do to stop fili¬ 
bustering, the landing of each new expedition 
in Cuba added fuel to the flames of anger that 
was beginning to be felt toward the United 
States by the press and people of Spain. 


15 


CHAPTER V 


WEYLER AND RECONCENTRATION 

It was not long after the Cuban declaration of 
independence, in February, 1895, that Spain 
began to realize that this rebellion was likely 
to prove much more difficult to suppress than 
any that had gone before it. 

Spain, it is true, had more troops in Cuba 
than the insurgents were able to muster and 
equip, but the insurgents fought with a des¬ 
peration that made them dangerous foes. 

Cubans, everywhere seemed to regard the 
revolution headed by Marti as the final effort 
Cubans ac- to tear 0 ff the yoke of Spanish op- 
tive every- pression. From all parts of the 
West Indies and North and South 
America, where there were Cubans, contribu¬ 
tions poured into the treasury of the Cuban 
Junta in New York. Cubans of all degrees, 
down to the poorest cigar-makers in Key West 
and Tampa, gave a generous tithe of their 
incomes for fitting out filibustering expedi¬ 
tions and buying munitions of war. 

16 


Weyler and Reconcentration 

In the attitude of the United States, Spain 
also found cause for alarm. Just about a year 
after the revolution began the United States 
Senate passed a resolution recognizing the 
Cubans as belligerents and offering the friendly 
offices of the United States through the Presi¬ 
dent to Spain in recognizing Cuban indepen¬ 
dence. The House of Representatives about 
six weeks later passed a similar resolution. 
President Cleveland, however, ignored these 
resolutions, and nothing more was done. 

The action of House and Senate had, 
however, indicated plainly the trend of public 
opinion in the United States, and stirred Spain 
to renewed activity against the insurgents, lead¬ 
ing indirectly to the policy of reconcentration. 

The actual carrying out of this policy de¬ 
volved on General Valeriano Weyler, who had 
been made Captain-General of Cuba; that is, 
the Military Governor. Weyler was without 
mercy toward the insurgents. “ War is no 
picnic/’ he said. 

When the Spaniards, unable to crush the in¬ 
surgents, were losing troops daily by illness and 
skirmishes, the insurgents were daily gaining 
in numbers, were adding to their equipment, 
and were drawing on the plantations for supplies. 

2 17 


History up to Date 

To cut off the food supplies from the in- 
surgents, it was decided to concentrate the 
Reconcentra- P ac ^ c °s — those peasants who were 
tion ordered taking no part in the war— into cer- 
in Cuba . tain ]i lxl its, in order that the crops 
they might raise would not go to feed the 
rebels. 

Circles were drawn around the cities, into 
which the peasants were herded, and forbidden 
to raise crops. Failing to accomplish the 
desired end, the circles were drawn smaller, 
and the peasants thus reconcentrated became 
the reconcentrados. 

Forbidden to maintain themselves, depend¬ 
ent on the cruel mercies of the Spanish sol¬ 
diery for their food, the condition of the 
reconcentrados soon became such as to stir 
the sympathy of the United States in their 
behalf. 


18 


CHAPTER VI 


ATTITUDE OF UNITED STATES 

Despite reports sent out from Havana and 
Madrid during the year 1896, of insurgents 
defeated in battle and provinces pacified by the 
Spanish soldiery, the people of the United 
States knew better. Many young Americans 
of adventurous spirit went to Cuba and fought 
with the insurgents. The tales they told on 
their return of insurgent victories and Spanish 
cruelties awakened much sympathy with the 
Cuban cause. Cuban refugees who reached the 
United States related terrible tales of the bru¬ 
tality of the Spanish troops. Despatches and 
letters from newspaper correspondents in 
Havana and in the field with the insurgents 
threw still more light on the subject. 

The diminution of the volume of trade be¬ 
tween the United States and Cuba also pro¬ 
claimed the fact that the rich island was being 
made desolate. But for the fact that the whole 
attention of the United States politically was 
devoted to financial problems, the war with 
1 9 


History up to Date 

Spain might have been dated two years sooner 
than it was. The Republican National Con¬ 
vention, assembled in St. Louis in June, 1896, 
declared itself as follows : — 

“ The government of Spain, having lost control of 
Cuba and being unable to protect the lives and prop- 
Political erty of resident American citizens or to 
Platforms comply with treaty obligations, we believe 
the government of the United States should actively 
use its good offices to restore peace and give independ¬ 
ence to the island/’ 

As far distant from the Republican party as 
it had ever been since the days of slavery and 
antislavery arguments, the Democratic party 
on the Cuban question took a somewhat similar 
stand. The Democratic Convention, assembled 
in Chicago on July 9, 1896, to nominate a Presi¬ 
dential candidate, declared in its platform — 

u We extend our sympathy to the people of Cuba 
in their heroic struggle for liberty and independence.” 

In the heat of the battle between free silver 
and sound money, the affairs of Cuba were tem¬ 
porarily lost sight of, although all the time the 
insurgents were waging determined warfare. 

With the triumph of McKinley, in Novem¬ 
ber, 1896, the attention of the United States 
20 


Attitude of United States 

began to revert to Cuba. Even President 
Cleveland, conservative to the utmost in touch¬ 
ing on the Cuban problem, in a message to 
Congress in December, 1896, gave a strong 
hint to Spain that if peace in Cuba was not 
restored, she might look forward to the United 
States being led to interfere. 

When President Cleveland went out of 
office there had been claims against Spain 
aggregating more than $ 10,000,000 filed with 
the Department of State in Washington. 
These claims were for property destroyed or 
confiscated during the war against the insur¬ 
gents, and for personal damages. American 
citizens in Cuba had been imprisoned, had been 
cruelly used, had even been murdered. Not¬ 
able among cases of this sort were those of 
Dr. Jose Delgado and Dr. Ricardo Ruiz. 

Delgado was maltreated by Spanish soldiers. 
His head was cut open by sword-blows. He 
Instances received a bullet in his thigh. Some 
of Cruelty Q f the men employed on his estate 
were killed. His property was ruined. 
Through Consul-General Williams, Dr. Del¬ 
gado filed a claim of $200,000 against Spain 
for the treatment he had received at her hands. 
The case of Dr. Ricardo Ruiz was even more 


21 


History up to Date 

shocking. Arrested and thrown into jail at 
Guanabacoa, he was kept there thirteen days, 
and then died. An investigation set on foot 
by Consul-General Lee proved that Ruiz had 
been cruelly murdered by his jailers. The 
widow of Dr. Ruiz, with her young children, 
came to the United States. They were in 
abject poverty, but friends cared for them. A 
claim of $75,000 was filed against Spain. 

Most of the property claims related to dam¬ 
age done to sugar and tobacco plantations 
Indemnity owned by citizens of the United 
Demands States. There came a time when the 
Spanish Government issued an edict against 
the grinding of cane. The rebels retaliated 
by burning crops. The citizens of the United 
States suffered — and filed claims. 

Indemnity claims made by one nation against 
another are at the best difficult and tedious to 
collect. To collect indemnity from a bank¬ 
rupt nation is infinitely harder. Besides, even 
if Spain had had the money, inflamed as public 
spirit was against the United States, she had no 
desire to, nor intention of, paying any claims. 

Thus it was that, when the year 1898 
opened, Spain occupied the position of an 
impudent debtor toward the United States. 


CHAPTER VII 


EFFORTS TO AVERT WAR 

It stands to the credit of nineteenth-century 
civilization that both the United States and 
Spain made strenuous efforts to avert war. 
While “ jingoes ” in both countries and news¬ 
papers clamored for war, the heads of the 
governments planned for peace. President 
McKinley in the spring of 1897 called upon 
the United States consuls in Cuba for reports 
on the condition of United States citizens and 
reconcentrados in Cuba. In April, 1897, the 
Queen Regent of Spain decreed certain reforms 
for Cuba, relating to the elections and to the 
reconcentrados. A better spirit seemed to 
prevail between the two countries. When 
the tomb of General Grant in Riverside Park, 
New York, was dedicated on April 27, 1897, 
Spanish war-ships joined in the naval parade. 

The promised reforms in Cuba, however, 
failed in effect. With the aid of the Spanish 
Recall of soldiery gross frauds were carried 
Weyler out in the Cuban elections. It had 


23 


History up to Date 

been the intention to let the reconcentrados 
return to their homes, but in most cases their 
homes had been destroyed. Their condition 
was little if any bettered. Starvation existed 
in all parts of the island. 

Then came a change in Spain. The Pre¬ 
mier, Senor Canovas, was assassinated and 
Senor Sagasta succeeded him, taking office on 
Oct. 2, 1897. Six days after Senor Sagasta’s 
installation, Captain-General Weyler was re¬ 
called from Cuba and General Ramon Blanco 
appointed in his stead. This change was 
strongly approved by the people of the United 
States, but in Spain the result was hardly in 
the interest of peace. General Weyler on his 
return was welcomed by great crowds who 
cheered him as a hero and openly sympathized 
in the bitter feeling he manifested toward the 
United States, where he considered the respon¬ 
sibility for his recall lay. 

The recall of General Weyler and the ap¬ 
pointment of General Blanco as Captain-Gen- 
Autonomy eral of Cuba was the first step toward 
a Failure a plan G f autonomy. This plan, as 
submitted in November, 1897, by Senor Moret, 
the Minister for the Colonies, and approved 
by the Queen Regent, empowered Cuba to be 
24 


Efforts to Avert War 

the regulator to a large extent of her financial 
and political affairs. It provided for universal 
suffrage and established the residents of the 
Antilles on an equal footing, so far as the 
government was concerned, with the residents 
of Spain. 

While theoretically this plan of autonomy 
appealed strongly to many of the Cuban lead¬ 
ers, it practically had little effect. After its 
adoption it was asserted that the only autono¬ 
mists in Cuba were those who got offices by it. 
Spain had frequently before made promises to 
Cuba and had just as frequently broken them. 
While universal suffrage had been granted, the 
army practically controlled the elections. 

Still another thing that prevented the success 
of autonomy was the fact that the vast ma¬ 
jority of the Cuban insurgents had made up 
their minds that they would be content with 
nothing less than the absolute freedom of the 
island. It was upon this platform Bartholo¬ 
mew Maso had become President of the so- 
called Cuban republic/ 

Altogether, the efforts of Spain to give Cuba 
something Cuba did not want resulted in dis¬ 
mal failure. 


2 5 


CHAPTER VIII 


DESTRUCTION OF THE “ MAINE ” 

Rioting in Cuba had resulted in the United 
States battle-ship “ Maine ” being ordered to 
Key West, Florida, in December, 1897, and in 
instructions being issued to her commander, 
Captain Charles D. Sigsbee, to be prepared to 
sail for Havana at any time that Consul-Gen¬ 
eral Fitzhugh Lee deemed the presence of a 
United States war-ship expedient. 

President McKinley had been several times 
on the point of ordering the “ Maine ” to pro- 
Why the cee d to Cuba, but the beginning of an- 
“ Maine ” other year found the relations of the 
went t0 United States and Spain apparently 

Havana , • r , 1 • t 

on a much more satisfactory basis. It 
was then decided to send the “ Maine ” to Ha¬ 
vana “on a friendly mission,” and the United 
States Minister in Madrid, General Stewart R. 
Woodford, was instructed to notify the Spanish 
government to that effect. Secretary Long, in 
an interview relative to the object of the 
“ Maine’s ” visit to Havana, said : — 

26 


Destruction of the “Maine” 


u Matters are now in such a condition that our ves¬ 
sels are going to resume their friendly calls at the ports 
of Cuba and go in and out just as the vessels of other 
nations do. The c Maine ’ will go in a day or two 
on just such a visit.” 

In accordance with this plan the “ Maine” 
arrived in the harbor of Havana, Jan. 25, 1898. 
Shortly afterward Spain despatched the cruiser 
<£ Vizcaya,” commanded by Captain Eulate, 
to pay a friendly visit to the port of New York. 
In Havana the usual calls were exchanged be¬ 
tween Captain Sigsbee and the Spanish author¬ 
ities. While the American seamen were not 
permitted to go ashore in Havana for fear of 
riots, the relations of the officers of the war¬ 
ship with the Spanish officials were not marred 
by any unpleasant incidents. 

All the greater was the surprise and conster¬ 
nation in the United States when on the night 

Blowing of Feb - r 5 > l8 9 8 > the “ Maine” was 
up of the blown up while at anchor in Havana 

“Maine” harbor. Two hundred and sixty-four 
of the crew lost their lives, and two of the 
officers. There is every reason for believing that 
the battle-ship was destroyed by a submarine 
mine under her keel, exploded by a Spanish 
officer or officers. There is no reason for be- 
27 


History up to Date 

lieving that General Blanco was cognizant of 
the plot. 

Revolting in its conception, horrible in its 
execution, was this plan to avenge fancied 
wrongs against the Americans. The great 
majority of the “ Maine’s ” crew passed into 
the unknown without a second to say a prayer. 
All the officers escaped unhurt except Lieuten¬ 
ant Friend W. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer 
Darwin R. Merritt. Jenkins could have un¬ 
doubtedly saved himself, but he turned back to 
get important papers belonging to the ship, 
and was trapped in the sinking hulk. It was 
days and weeks before many of the bodies were 
recovered. 

Too stupefied by the enormity of the crime 
for the first few hours to realize what it meant, 
the increasing wrath of the American nation 

o 

was checked temporarily by the first despatch 
from Captain Sigsbee, cool-headed in the midst 
of calamity. His despatch said : “ Public 
opinion should be suspended until further 
report.” His calm counsel was recalled in the 
days that followed, but it was not long before 
“ Remember the ‘ Maine ’ ! ” was the slogan 
of vengeance. 

Nations hastened to express their sympathy 
28 


Destruction of the “Maine” 


with the United States. Among the first was 
Sympathy Spain. In Havana the awfulness of 
of Nations t h e di sas ter wrought a temporary 
change in the public feeling. The theatres 
were closed and the flags about the Captain- 
General’s palace were put at half-mast. 

The government at Washington was in re¬ 
ceipt of many telegrams and cable messages .of 
condolence from European rulers before twenty- 
four hours had elapsed. 

In Madrid the day following the C£ Maine” 
disaster, Senor Moret, the Minister of the 
Colonies, sent a letter to General Stewart L. 
Woodford, the United States Minister, in 
which, on behalf of the Spanish Cabinet, he 
expressed sympathy. Senor Du Bose, the 
Spanish Charge d’Affaires in Washington, 
hastened to express his condolence to the State 
Department. 


29 


CHAPTER IX 

THE “ MAINE ” INVESTIGATION 

At the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, 
Rear-Admiral Montgomery Sicard, command¬ 
ing the North Atlantic squadron of the United 
States on April 17, 1898, appointed a court of 
inquiry to investigate and report on the de¬ 
struction of the battle-ship “ Maine.” 

This court was composed of: Captain W. T. 
Sampson, commanding the battle-ship “ Iowa;” 
The Court Captain French E. Chadwick, com- 
of Inquiry manding the cruiser “ New York;” 
Lieutenant Commander W. P. Potter, execu¬ 
tive officer of the “ New York.” Lieutenant 
Commander Adolph Marix, executive officer 
of the United States receiving ship “ Vermont,” 
who had formerly been executive officer of the 
“ Maine,” was named as judge advocate of the 
court of inquiry. 

Although this court was appointed two days 
after the blowing up of the “ Maine,” its report 
was not made until nearly six weeks later. A 
court of inquiry appointed by the Spanish au- 
3 ° 


The “Maine” Investigation 

thorities in Havana also took about the same 
length of time. The general belief among the 
American people was that it was the work of a 
Spanish mine, and as the weeks passed by this 
belief became conviction, even before the court 
of inquiry had reported. The Spanish people 
and press, on the other hand, maintained that 
it was an accident. 1 

Captain Sigsbee had had an anonymous 
warning. A circular printed in Spanish had 
Captain been sapped into his hand in a crowd. 
Sigsbee It was a tirade against the Americans 
warned an d «rotten squadron.” On 

the margin of this circular was written : “ Look 
out for your ship ! ” 

1 The way in which Spain looked upon the destruction of the 
“ Maine ” was set forth in a semi-official note issued Feb. 16, 
1898, which read : — 

“ The news of the disaster to the ‘ Maine ’ has caused a pain¬ 
ful impression in Madrid. It was at first feared there had been 
some act of imprudence to which the catastrophe was attribu¬ 
table. Afterward, as the details arrived, the fears dispelled 
took the form of feelings of sympathy and sorrow for the mis¬ 
fortune which has occurred. The Captain-General, the comman¬ 
dant of the Arsenal, the sailors of the cruiser ‘Alfonso XII.,’ 
the crews of the merchant vessels, and all the available forces 
hastened to succor the injured. The government has expressed 
to Minister Woodford the regret it feels at the catastrophe, 
more especially that it occurred in waters within Spanish 
jurisdiction.” 


31 





History up to Date 

On the other hand, a theory found weight 
among experts and naval officers that the ex¬ 
plosion was internal. There was a possibility 
of spontaneous combustion in the coal bunkers. 
The question before the court of inquiry was 
this : “ Was the explosion external or inter¬ 

nal ? ” It was realized that if the plates of the 
“ Maine’s ” hull were found bent inward, that 
the explosion was external and therefore could 
not have been accidental. 

Two stenographers were employed taking 
the testimony of the <c Maine ” officers and crew 
rpjj e who had survived the disaster, divers 

Explosion hired to examine the wreck, experts 
external w ho exam i nec l w hat was left of 
the battle-ship, persons who had had inklings 
of Spanish plots in Havana. Sessions of the 
court were held in both Key West and 
Havana. Divers employed to recover the 
bodies of sailors from the battle-ship were also 
examined as witnesses. 

It remained for a young ensign to bring 
forward conclusive proof that the explosion 
that destroyed the “ Maine ” came from the out¬ 
side, leaving the inference that it was the ex¬ 
plosion of a Spanish mine or torpedo. Ensign 
Powelson, a specialist in naval construction, 
3 2 


The “ Maine ” Investigation 

discovered that the keel plates of the “ Maine ” 
had been forced upward until they projected 
out of the water. 

This evidence was not officially made public 
until the court of inquiry made its report, but 
the publication of Ensign Powelson’s discov¬ 
eries resulted in no one in the United States 
giving much credence to the theory of an in¬ 
ternal explosion. In addition to the discov¬ 
eries of Mr. Powelson, the investigation of the 
court of inquiry developed the fact that some 
boilers which at first it was thought might 
have exploded, were not in use at the time. 
It was also shown that excelsior, which formed 
the packing of the forward magazine of the 
battle-ship, was not even charred. 


3 


33 




CHAPTER X 


THE DE LOME INCIDENT 

It was somewhat remarkable that diplomatic 
relations between the United States and Spain 
did not suffer an immediate wrench over the 
“ Maine ” disaster, since hardly a week before 
an incident had become public which had re¬ 
sulted in the resignation of the Spanish Min¬ 
ister in Washington. Senor Jose Canalejas, 
formerly Spanish Minister of Justice and the 
proprietor of a newspaper in Madrid, had 
visited the United States and Cuba for the pur¬ 
pose of informing himself of the true condition 
of affairs. While Senor Canalejas was in 
Havana he received a letter from the Spanish 
Minister in Washington, Senor Don Enrique 
De Lome. An agent of the Cuban Junta pur¬ 
loined this letter from the Hotel Ingleterra in 
Havana, and after Senor Canalejas had returned 
to Spain a copy of the letter was given to the 
American press and to the authorities in 
Washington. 

In this letter Senor De Lome not only made 
stringent criticisms of President McKinley's 
34 



The Dc Lome Incident 

message to Congress, but he referred to the 
President as cc weak and catering to the masses, 
An Insult to and besides a low politician, who de- 
McKinley sires to leave a door open to me and 
to stand well with the jingoes of his party/’ 1 
This letter was made public. on Feb. 8, 
1898. Senor De Lome admitted privately 
that he was the author of it, but it nevertheless 
put the government in Washington in an awk¬ 
ward position. Such an insult to the Chief 
Executive could hardly be passed over un¬ 
noticed, but it was hardly dignified for the gov¬ 
ernment to take cognizance of a private letter 
undoubtedly obtained by surreptitious means. 

1 Senor De Lome in this letter wrote: — 

“ The message has undeceived the insurgents, who expected 
something else, and has paralyzed the action of Congress, but I 
consider it bad. 

“ Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he 
repeats all that the press and the public opinion of Spain has said 
of Weyler, it shows once more that McKinley is weak and 
catering to the rabble, and besides a low politician, who desires 
to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes 
of his party. 

“ Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, it will only depend on 
ourselves whether he will prove bad or adverse to us. I agree 
entirely with you, — without a military success nothing will be 
accomplished there, and without military and political success 
there is always danger that the insurgents will be encouraged, if 
not by the government, at least by part of the public opinion.” 

35 






History up to Date 

Senor De Lome, however, forestalled action 
by either his own government or the United 
Resignation States by promptly cabling his resig- 
of De Lome nation to Madrid. When the United 
States Minister in Madrid intimated to the 
Spanish government that Senor De Lome had 
become 'persona non grata to the United States, 
he was informed that the resignation of Senor 
De Lome had already been accepted. Senor 
De Lome in his despatch to Madrid stated 
that he was the author of the published letter, 
and that in consequence he found his position 
untenable. Premier Sagasta in the Cabinet 
Council commended him for “ so bravely ad¬ 
mitting’' the authorship of the letter. 

The Spanish government made Senor Du 
Bose, Secretary of the Legation, its charge 
d’affaires in Washington, and named Senor 
Polo de Bernabe to succeed De Lome. Min¬ 
ister Woodford insisted that the Spanish gov¬ 
ernment make official disclaimer of the De 
Lome letter, and in a few days he was informed 
that the Cabinet entirely condemned the views 
expressed. 

With this disclaimer the incident ended, but 
shortly afterward the imprudent remarks of 
Lieutenant Sobral, the naval attache of the 
36 


The De Lome Incident 

Spanish legation in Washington, were the 
Imprudence subject of official inquiry. Three or 
ofSobral f our days a ft e r the “Maine” was 
destroyed, Lieutenant Sobral in an interview 
expressed the belief that the explosion was an 
internal one, resulting from the lax discipline 
observed on the ship. He said also that if 
war should come, the knowledge he had ac¬ 
quired as naval attache would be of great value 
to his government. 

It was then recalled that Lieutenant Sobral 
had visited many of the fortifications along the 
Atlantic coast, and that only a few months 
before his extensive inquiries at Charleston had 
resulted in permission to visit the fortifications 
there being withdrawn. This convinced the 
United States that Spain had been quietly 
gathering all the information about the Atlantic 
coast defences she could. The Spanish charge 
d’affaires in Washington hastened, however, to 
inform the State Department that Lieutenant 
Sobral had been detached as naval attache in 
January, and that therefore his remarks were 
only those of a private citizen. There was 
nothing left for the United States but to accept 
this explanation. 


37 


CHAPTER XI 


PREPARATIONS FOR WAR BEGUN 

Although no open breach followed the De 
Lome and Sobral incidents, despite the official 
regret expressed by Spain for the “ Maine ” dis¬ 
aster, within a week after the destruction of the 
“ Maine ” both the United States and Spain be¬ 
gan preparing for war. To outward appearances 
friendly relations between the two nations were 
still maintained. 

General Woodford, the United States Min¬ 
ister to Madrid, on February 24 gave a ban¬ 
quet in honor of the newly appointed Minister 
to the United States. Nearly all the members 
of the Spanish Cabinet attended, and all drank 
enthusiastically to “ Peace/’the toast proposed 
by the host. Spain had, however, already 
started a fleet of war-ships to the Canaries on 
its way to Cuba. The United States had 
begun mobilizing the North Atlantic squadron 
at the Dry Tortugas. A bill to provide ad¬ 
ditional regiments of artillery was hurried 
through Congress, and men from Western 
38 


Preparations for War Begun 

posts were being rushed to the Atlantic coast 
fortifications. 

Both nations began to scour the markets of 
the world for war-ships, at first not so much 
Hostile with the intention of purchase as of 
Preparations obtaining an option for as long a 
period as possible. The United States began 
sending guns and ammunition to its Atlantic 
coast and Gulf ports, particularly to Key West, 
Florida. Plans for extensive coal sheds at the 
latter place were also set on foot. The cc Alfonso 
XIII.” arrived at Havana with some Spanish 
troops, and the attention of Captain-General 
Blanco was devoted to strengthening the forti¬ 
fications of the Cuban coast. 

Meanwhile the United States was continuing 
to send food and other supplies to the starving 
Cubans, sometimes using naval vessels for the 
purpose, sometimes merchant vessels. Out of 
this arose an incident that threatened further 
complications in the relations of the United 
States and Spain. 

The Spanish government gave United States 
Minister Woodford to understand that it 
Lee's Recall would like the United States to re- 
askedfor call General Fitzhugh Lee, the 

United States Consul-General to Cuba, and 
39 


History up to Date 

to stop sending relief supplies to Cuba in 
vessels of the navy. 

Minister Woodford promptly communicated 
Spain’s wishes to the State Department in 
Washington, and just as promptly the United 
States refused to comply with the wishes of the 
Madrid government. 1 

When President McKinley’s firm reply to 
Minister Woodford’s despatch was received by 
the Spanish Cabinet, it hastened to withdraw 
its ultimatum in regard to the recall of General 
Lee and the sending of supplies. Minister 
Woodford was also assured that it had not been 
the intention of the Spanish government to 
offend the United States. 

It was realized by the United States that 
Millions large sums of money would be needed 
for Defence for putting the defences of the coun¬ 
try into better shape in the event of war with 


1 The following statement in regard to the case was issued 
in Washington : — 

“ The President will not consider the recall of General Lee. 
He has borne himself throughout this crisis with judgment, 
fidelity, and courage, to the President’s entire satisfaction. 

“ As to the supplies for the relief of the Cuban people, all 
arrangements have been made to carry a consignment this week 
in one of the naval vessels, whichever may be the best adapted 
and most available for the purpose, to Matanzas and Sagua.” 

40 


Preparations for War Begun 

Spain. Representative Cannon accordingly in¬ 
troduced into the House on March 7 a bill mak¬ 
ing an appropriation of $ 50,000,000 for the 
national defence. The following day the House 
of Representatives passed this bill, 311 of the 
356 Representatives voting for it, not one of 
those present dissenting. When the bill came 
up in the Senate, on March 9, seventy-six 
Senators were present and seventy-six “ ayes ” 
were recorded for the bill. Every Senator not 
present had one of his colleagues put him on 
record as favoring it. 1 

The same day that the Senate passed the bill 
President McKinley signed it, and it became 
law. The passage of the bill was a triumph 
for President McKinley. Without making a 
pledge or a promise, the entire Congress, with¬ 
out a single objection, irrespective of party, had 
shown its confidence in him by placing in his 
hands fifty millions for defence. 

1 The bill was as follows : — 

“ Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
in Congress assembled : — 

t( That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the 
treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the national defence and 
for each and every purpose connected therewith, to be expended 
at the discretion of the President and to remain available until 
June 30, 1899, fifty million dollars.” 

41 



History up to Date 

The Navy Department, anticipating the 
Plans of passage of the bill, had laid plans for 
the Navy strengthening the navy in the follow¬ 
ing way : — 

Immediate completion of negotiations for the pur¬ 
chase of foreign-built war-ships. 

Issuance of orders to contractors for munitions for 
the magazines of men-of-war. 

Execution of arrangements for large supplies of coal 
to be shipped to Key West. 

Despatch of instructors to recruiting stations to 
enlist as many seamen, machinists, and petty officers as 
possible. 

Formation of crews for the commerce destroyers 
u Columbia ” and u Minneapolis/’ 

Hastening the completion of repairs on war vessels 
out of commission, and hastening the completion of 
new vessels under construction. 

Formation of plans for transforming merchant 
ships into auxiliary cruisers. 


42 


CHAPTER XII 

THE “ MAINE ” COURTS REPORT 

The report of the naval court of inquiry 
appointed to investigate the destruction of 
the “ Maine ” was presented to the Congress 
of the United States on March 28. It was 
signed by all the members of the court, and 
contained these conclusions : — 

First, that at the time of the explosion, the battle¬ 
ship “ Maine ” was lying in five and one-half to six 
Conclusions fathoms of water. 

of the Court Second, the discipline aboard the ship 
was excellent; everything was stowed according to 
orders, ammunition, guns, stores, etc. The tempera¬ 
ture at eight o’clock p. m. was normal, except in the 
after ten-inch magazine, and that did not explode. 

Third, the explosion occurred at twenty minutes 
to ten o’clock on the evening of February 15. There 
were two explosions with a very short interval be¬ 
tween them. The ship lifted on the first explosion. 

Fourth, the court could form no definite opinion of 
the condition of the wreck from the divers’ evidence. 

Fifth, technical details of the wreckage, from which 
43 


History up to Date 

the court deduced that a mine was exploded under the 
ship on the port side. 

Sixth, the explosion was due to no fault of those on 
board. 

Seventh, opinion of the court, stating that the 
explosion of the mine caused the explosion of two 
magazines. 

Eighth, the court declared that it cannot find evi¬ 
dence to fix responsibility. 

This conservative report was a disappoint¬ 
ment to many people in the United States. 
Respomibil- The report, however, by inference, 
ity of Spain J ec l are( d Spain guilty. The conclu¬ 
sion that the explosion was due to no fault of 
those on board was a complete vindication 
of the officers of the “ Maine.” The opinion 
of the court that the wrecking of the battle-ship 
was due to the explosion of a mine under the 
ship on the port side amounted to a declara¬ 
tion that Spain was responsible for the disaster. 
There were no mines in Havana except those 
controlled by the Spanish officers. With due 
precautions, it must have been impossible for a 
mine of power sufficient to wreck a battle-ship 
to have been placed without the knowledge 
and participation of one or more Spanish 
officers. 


44 


The u Maine” Court’s Report 

In transmitting the report of the court of 
inquiry to Congress, President McKinley sent 
Criticism of with it a brief message. There were 
McKinley m any who expected this message 
would advise some course of procedure against 
Spain. The world had been looking for a 
crisis to follow at once the presentation of the 
report. The conservatism of the President was 
manifest in his message, and he plainly showed 
that he was not to be driven headlong into war 
by the “jingoes ” of the United States . 1 

1 President McKinley in his message explained the visit of 
the “ Maine ” to Havana thus : — 

“ Some time prior to the visit of the 4 Maine ’ to Havana 
harbor our consular representatives pointed out the advantages to 
flow from the visit of national ships to Cuban waters in accus¬ 
toming the people to the presence of our flag as the symbol of 
good will and of our ships in the fulfilment of the mission of pro¬ 
tection to American interests, even though no immediate need 
therefor exist. Accordingly, on the 24th of January last, after 
conference with the Spanish Minister in which the renewal of 
visits of our war vessels to Spanish waters was discussed and 
accepted, the Peninsular authorities at Madrid and Havana 
were advised of the purpose of this government to resume 
friendly visits at Cuban ports, and that in that view the ‘ Maine ’ 
would forthwith call at the port of Havana. This announce¬ 
ment was received by the Spanish government with appreciation 
of the friendly character of the visit of the 4 Maine ’ and with 
notification of intention to return the courtesy by sending Span¬ 
ish ships to the principal ports of the United States.” 

After discussing the destruction of the “ Maine ” and sum- 

45 


History up to Date 

Ominous silence greeted the reading of the 
message in both House and Senate, and, after 
adjournment, many criticisms of the President 
were heard. Party lines seemed to have been 
laid aside. The conservatives, irrespective of 
party, rallied in defence of the conservatism of 
the President. The “jingoes” began to discuss 
forms of the resolutions declaring war, which 
they declared it was their intention to present. 
In one or two places in the country the Presi¬ 
dent was burned in effigy. 

Happily wiser counsels prevailed, and the 
advantage of a conservative course soon became 
apparent. 

marizing very briefly the report of the court of inquiry, Presi¬ 
dent McKinley said : — 

“ I have directed that the finding of the court of inquiry and 
the view of this government thereon be communicated to her 
Majesty, the Queen Regent, and I do not permit myself to 
doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate 
a course of action suggested by honor and the friendly relations 
of the two governments. It will be the duty of the Executive 
to advise Congress of the result, and in the mean while deliberate 
consideration is invoked.” 


46 


CHAPTER XIII 


DEMANDS MADE ON SPAIN 

War was looked upon as a certainty in both 
the United States and Spain at the beginning 
of the month of April, 1898. 

President McKinley, in transmitting the 
report of the United States court of inquiry 
to the Madrid government, demanded that 
reparation be made for the loss of the battle¬ 
ship “ Maine.” In addition he demanded : 

First, That Spain shall send the reconcentrados 
back to their homes and permit the United States to 
Armistice aid i n supplying them with the means of 
demanded sustaining life until normal conditions can 
be restored. 

Second, That there shall be an armistice be¬ 
tween Spain and Cuba, with the end in view of 
securing a settlement of the difficulties and the 
withdrawal of the Spanish forces from Cuba. 

Third, In case of a failure of the Cubans and 
Spaniards to come to an understanding during the 
armistice, Spain to submit the entire matter to 
President McKinley as arbitrator, with the under- 
47 


History up to Date 

standing that he will decide in that event for the 
entire independence of Cuba. 

Spain refused to recognize the right of the 
Demands United States to either indemnity or 
refused f apology for the loss of the “ Maine,” 
and in regard to other demands, answered : 

u Spain informs the government of the United 
States that General Blanco has revoked the bando 
relating to the reconcentrados in the western prov¬ 
inces of Cuba, — Matanzas, Santa Clara, Habana, and 
Pinar del Rio; that the Spanish government has 
placed at the disposal of the Governor-General the 
credit of 3,000,000 pesetas to the end that the 
country people return at once and with success to 
their labor. 

M The Spanish government will accept whatever 
assistance to feed and succor the necessitous may be 
sent from the United States in accordance with the 
plan now in operation. 

“ Spain proposes to confide the preparations for an 
honorable and stable peace to the insular parliament, 
without whose concurrence the Spanish government 
would be unable to arrive at the final result, it being 
understood that the powers reserved by the Constitu¬ 
tion to the central government are not lessened or 
diminished. 

u As the Cuban Chambers will not meet until 
May 4, the Spanish government will not, on its 
48 



Demands made on Spain 

part, object to a suspension of hostilities if asked for 
by the insurgents from the general-in-chief, to whom 
it will belong to determine the duration and the con¬ 
dition of the suspension.” 

Diplomatic relations between Spain and the 
United States were now near the breaking point. 
Consuls Early in the first week in April 

recalled orders were sent to the consuls and 

consular agents in Cuba to join Consul-Gen¬ 
eral Lee in Havana and to be prepared to 
leave immediately. General Woodford, the 
United States Minister to Spain, also received 
instructions to be ready for his recall at any 
time. He responded by sending his family and 
most of his staff to Paris. American consuls 
in Spain were also notified that the break in dip¬ 
lomatic relations might be expected at any time. 

The lighthouse tender “Fern” at Havana was 
now joined by the “ Blake ” and the “ Bache,” 
which were sent with a view to providing trans¬ 
portation for American refugees. 

The “Maine ” wreck in the harbor of Havana 
had been abandoned by the United States 
government. Fast steamers had been de¬ 
spatched from Kingston, Jamaica, to ports on 
the south coast of Cuba, to take off Americans 
who desired to leave the island. 


4 


49 


History up to Date 

It had been promised that President McKin¬ 
ley would send a message to Congress at noon 
Message on Wednesday, April 6. It was con- 
delayed fidently expected both in the United 
States and in Europe that the message of the 
President would be the signal for war. Great 
was the consternation of the warlike Congress 
when it was announced, when Wednesday 
came, that the message of the President would 
be delayed. The ostensible reason given was 
that General Fitzhugh Lee, Consul-General to 
Cuba, had requested the delay. 

This was accepted for a few hours as the 
real reason for the President’s delay in send¬ 
ing his message to Congress; but it soon 
became known that the delay was to give 
diplomacy one more chance in the interests of 
peace. 


50 


CHAPTER XIV 


ACTION OF THE POWERS 

There was a remarkable scene in the Blue 
Parlor of the White House, in Washington, at 
noon on Thursday, April 8. Representatives 
of the six great Powers of Europe—Great 
Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and 
Austria-Hungary — called in a body and were 
received by President McKinley. There were 
present Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Am¬ 
bassador, and his secretary ; M. Jules Cambon, 
the French Ambassador, and M. Thiebaut, 
First Secretary of the Embassy; Dr. von 
Holleben, the German Ambassador, and the 
Baron Speck von Sternburg; Mr. Ladislaus 
Hengelmuller von Hengervar, the Austrian 
Minister: Count Vinci, the Italian Charge 
d’Affaires, and M. de Wollant, the Russian 
Charge d’Affaires. 

Sir Julian Pauncefote, as spokesman, pre¬ 
sented the following note in French, the 
Note from official language of international 
the Powers communication : — 

5i 


History up to Date 

w The undersigned representatives of Germany, 
Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, Italy, and 
Russia, duly authorized in that behalf, address in the 
name of their respective governments a pressing 
appeal to the feelings of humanity and moderation of 
the President and of the American people in their 
existing differences with Spain. 

They earnestly hope that further negotiations 
will lead to an agreement which, while securing the 
maintenance of peace, will afford all necessary guar¬ 
antees for the re-establishment of order in Cuba. 

M The Powers do not doubt that the humanitarian 
and purely disinterested character of this representa¬ 
tion will be fully recognized and appreciated by the 
American nation.” 

To this note of the Powers, President 
McKinley replied: — 

“The government of the United States recognizes 
the good-will which has prompted the friendly com- 
McKinley* s munication of the representatives of Ger- 
Reply many, Austria-Hungary, France, Great 
Britain, Italy, and Russia, as set forth in the address 
of your excellencies, and shares the hope therein ex¬ 
pressed that the outcome of the situation in Cuba 
may be the maintenance of peace between the United 
States and Spain by affording the necessary guarantee 
for the re-establishment of order in the island, so ter¬ 
minating the chronic condition of disturbance there 
5 2 


Action of the Powers 

which so deeply injures the interests and menaces the 
tranquillity of the American nation by the character 
and consequences of the struggle thus kept at our 
doors, besides shocking its sentiment of humanity. 

u The government of the United States appreci¬ 
ates the humanitarian and disinterested character of 
the communication now made on behalf of the 
Powers named, and for its part is confident that 
equal appreciation will be shown for its earnest and 
unselfish endeavors to fulfil a duty to humanity by 
ending a situation the prolongation of which has be¬ 
come insufferable.” 

President McKinley’s answer certainly made 
clear that the United States proposed to pur¬ 
sue her course irrespective of any action of the 
Powers. The representatives of the Powers 
so informed their respective governments, and 
there ended the efforts of the Powers to pre¬ 
vent war. But even before the note of the 
Powers had been presented, efforts for peace 
had been made from another source in both 
Washington and Madrid. 

The Pope of Rome, as the head of the 
Roman Catholic Church, had used his utmost 
Appeal of endeavors. The reigning family in 
the Pope Spain, and by far the greater part 
of the population, were devout Catholics. 

53 


History up to Date 

An appeal was made by the Pope to the Queen 
Regent, in the interest of peace, to yield to the 
demands made by the President of the United 
States in regard to the Cubans. The appeal of 
the Pope was received by the Queen with due 
respect and consideration, but prior to the pre¬ 
sentation of the note by the Powers, it had 
been of little avail. The proposition of the 
Pope at first was that Spain should agree to 
grant an armistice in Cuba, provided the United 
States would withdraw its fleet from Key West. 

Upon President McKinley and the Ameri¬ 
can people the influence of the Pope was by 
no means as great as on Catholic Spain. 
Archbishop Ireland, however, was a friend of 
the President, and to him was intrusted the 
mission of presenting the Pope’s plan for peace 
in Washington, which he accordingly did. 
The United States, however, refused to re¬ 
move its fleet from Key West. After the 
note of the Powers was presented and failed to 
accomplish anything, Spain, yielding to the 
Pope’s plea, granted a brief armistice. The 
Spanish Minister in Washington announced 
this to the administration, but the fact that the 
Cuban insurgents refused to accept any armis¬ 
tice left matters exactly as they were before. 

54 


CHAPTER XV 


PRESIDENT MCKINLEY’S MESSAGE 

President McKinley’s long-expected message 
was sent to Congress on Monday, April n. 
With it were transmitted the reports of the 
United States consuls in Cuba in regard to 
conditions in the island. It had been expected 
on both sides of the Atlantic that the message 
of the President would be virtually a declaration 
of war. The message, however, dealt with the 
past rather than the future. It related facts 
more than it mapped out a course of action. 

The President declared that reconcentration 
was not civilized warfare and recited the efforts 
of the United States to aid the reconcentrados. 
He asserted his belief that it would not be 
Reasons for wise for the United States to recog- 
Intervention nize the so-called Cuban republic. 
He summarized the reasons the United States 
had for intervening in Cuba as follows : — 

First, In the interest of humanity and to put an 
end to the barbarities, bloodshed, and horrible mis¬ 
eries now existing there. 


55 


History up to Date 

Second, We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to 
afford them protection and indemnity for life and 
property. 

Third, The right to intervene may be justified by 
the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and 
business of our people. 

Fourth, The present condition of affairs in Cuba 
is a constant menace to our peace and entails upon 
this government an enormous expense. 

Lastly, President McKinley asserted : — 

“ In any event, the destruction of the 1 Maine,’ 
by whatever exterior cause, is a patent and impressive 
proof of a state of affairs in Cuba that is intolerable. 
That condition is thus shown to be such that the 
Spanish government cannot insure safety and secur¬ 
ity to a vessel of the American navy in the harbor of 
Havana on a mission of peace, and rightfully there.” 

It was to Congress that President McKinley 
Decision left left the final opportunity of casting 
to Congress the die for peace or war. In clos¬ 
ing his message, he said : — 

“ I ask Congress to authorize and empower the 
President to take measures to secure a full and final 
termination of hostilities between the government of 
Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the 
island the establishment of a stable government, capa¬ 
ble of maintaining order and preserving international 
56 


President McKinley’s Message 

obligations, insuring peace and tranquillity and the 
security of its citizens, as well as our own, and to 
use the military and naval forces of the United States 
as may be necessary for these purposes. 

u The issue is now with Congress. It is a solemn 
responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to 
relieve the intolerable condition of affairs which is 
at our doors. Prepared to execute every obligation 
imposed upon me by the constitution and the law, I 
await your action.” 

Congress hardly knew what to make of the 
President’s message. In both the House of 
Representatives and the Senate the reading of 
the message was listened to with silence. After 
adjournment Senators and Representatives 
gathered in groups and discussed the Presi¬ 
dent’s declaration. Party lines were lost in 
the wilds of Cuba. Democrats warmly upheld 
the attitude of the Republican President. Re¬ 
publicans indignantly assailed the utterances 
of the head of their party. 


57 


CHAPTER XVI 


REPORTS OF CUBAN CONSULS 

Both Senate and House of Representatives 
had been demanding that reports made by the 
United States consuls in Cuba should be sub¬ 
mitted to them. President McKinley had 
withheld these reports, fearing that the informa¬ 
tion in regard to the frightful condition of 
affairs would precipitate action on the part of 
Congress. With his message, however, he 
sent the consular reports. The greater part 
of them were compiled by General Fitzhugh 
Lee, Consul-General, but there were also com¬ 
munications from Owen McGarr, Consul at 
Cienfuegos; Mr. Brice, Consul at Matanzas; 
Effects of Pulaski F. Hyatt, at Santiago de 
Reconcen- Cuba, and Mr. Barker, at Sagua La 
Nation Grande. As to General Weyler’s 
order of reconcentration, General Lee wrote : 

“ It transformed about 400,000 self-supporting 
persons, principally women and children, into a 
multitude to be sustained by the contributions of 
others or to die by starvation or of fevers. Their 
58 


Reports of Cuban Consuls 

homes were burned, their fields and plant beds de¬ 
stroyed, and their live stock driven away or killed. 

u I estimate that probably 200,000 of the rural 
population in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana, 
Matanzas, and Santa Clara have died of starvation or 
from resultant causes, and the deaths of whole fam¬ 
ilies, almost simultaneously or within a few days of 
each other, and of mothers praying for their children 
to be relieved of their horrible suffering by death, are 
not the least of the many pitiable scenes which were 
ever present. In the provinces of Puerto Principe 
and Santiago de Cuba, where the reconcentrado order 
could not be enforced, the great mass of the people 
are self-sustaining.” 

Descriptions of the horrible conditions in 
Horrible Cuba were given by the consuls in 
Conditions graphic language. General Lee in 
one report wrote : — 

“ Four hundred and sixty women and children, 
thrown on the ground, heaped pell-mell as animals, 
some in a dying condition, others dead, without the 
slightest cleanliness or the least help, not even able to 
give water to the thirsty, without either religious or 
social help, each one dying wherever chance laid him. 

w Among the many deaths we saw there was one 
impossible to forget. There is still alive, the only 
witness, a young girl of eighteen whom we found 
seemingly lifeless on the ground. On her right side 
59 


History up to Date 

was the body of a young mother, cold and rigid, but 
with her young child still clinging to her breast. On 
her left side was the corpse of a woman holding her 
son in close embrace, a little further on a dying 
woman having in her arms a daughter of fourteen, 
crazy with pain, who after twelve or fourteen days 
died in spite of the care she received.” 

Spain had been prating for months about 
autonomy in Cuba, — the autonomy she had 
Autonomy established, the autonomy she was 
a Failure going to establish, the autonomy 
which she said the insurgents had accepted. In 
summing up the situation in the latter part of 
November, 1897, General Lee wrote : — 

“ The insurgents will not accept autonomy. A 
large majority of the Spanish subjects, who have com¬ 
mercial and business interests, and own property 
here, will not accept autonomy, but prefer annexation 
to the United States rather than an independent 
republic or genuine autonomy under the Spanish.” 


60 


CHAPTER XVII 


DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SEVERED 

Congress had been blaming the President for 
unnecessary delay in acting in reference to the 
Cuban situation, but when the message of 
McKinley put the responsibility of action upon 
Congress it was Congress that delayed. The 
President’s message was referred to the foreign 
committees of the upper and lower houses and 
by them reported back with resolutions. The 
Senate wished to recognize the Cuban republic. 
The House did not. Conference committees 
were appointed and days of debate followed. 

The House resolution read “ that the peo¬ 
ple of Cuba of right ought to be free and inde- 
Congress not pendent.” The Senate resolution 
in Harmony rea d « that the people of Cuba are 
and of right ought to be free and independent.” 
All Monday night, April 18, House and Senate 
wrangled. The conference committees met, 
agreed, reported, were ordered to meet again, 
but finally the Senate yielded the point of the 
recognition of the Cuban government and the 

6t 


History up to Date 

House agreed to the insertion of the words 
“ are and ” into the resolutions. 

Early on Tuesday morning, April 19, a joint 


vote of 310 to 6 in 


resolution was 



the House and of 42 to 3 5 in the Senate demand¬ 
ing that Spain withdraw at once from the island 
of Cuba, authorizing the President to use the 
land and naval forces of the United States to 
enforce the demand, and declaring that the sole 
reason for the United States interfering in 
Cuba was for the pacification of the island. 1 

1 The joint resolution adopted by Congress on April 19, 
1898, and approved by the President the next day, read : 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America, in Congress assembled. 

First, That the people of Cuba are and of right ought to be 
free and independent. 

Second, That it is the duty of the United States to demand, 
and the government of the United States does hereby demand, 
that the government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and 
government of the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and 
naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. 

Third, That the President of the United States be and he 
hereby is directed and empowered to use the entire land and 
naval forces of the United States and to call into actual service 
of the United States the militia of the several States to such an 
extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into 
effect. 

Fourth, That the United States hereby disclaims any dispo¬ 
sition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or con- 


Diplomatic Relations Severed 

The resolution was approved by the Presi¬ 
dent on the next afternoon. Senor Polo de 
Bernabe, the Spanish Minister, on the passage 
of the resolution at once asked for his pass¬ 
ports, turned over the business of the legation 
to the French Ambassador, M. Jules Cambon, 
and the same evening left for Canada with his 
secretaries and suite. 

Immediately on the signing of the resolution 
of Congress by the President, Secretary of 
McKinley*s State Sherman cabled the contents 
Ultimatum of the resolution to Minister Wood¬ 
ford in Madrid, directing him to inform the 
Spanish government that if the United States 
had not received a full and satisfactory response 
to the demands, by noon on Saturday, April 
23 the President would proceed without further 
notice to use the power and authority conferred 
on him by Congress. 

The cable message to General Woodford 
was not sent in cipher, as government despatches 
ordinarily are, and it was held in the cable 
company’s office in Madrid for several hours 
before it was delivered to the United States 

trol over said island except for the pacification thereof, and 
asserts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the 
government and control of the island to the people. 

63 


History up to Date 

Minister. Meanwhile the Spanish Cabinet 
had been informed of its contents. Before 
Minister Woodford had an opportunity to 
communicate the President’s ultimatum to 
Premier Sagasta he received a curt note inform¬ 
ing him that diplomatic relations between the 
two countries had been broken off. He at 
once asked for his passports, notified the 
United States consuls in Spain, turned over 
the business of the American legation to the 
British embassy, and left for Paris, whither he 
had already sent his family and his household 
goods. 


64 


CHAPTER XVIII 


CUBAN COAST BLOCKADED 

The reception of the President’s ultimatum in 
Madrid and the fact that Spain made no further 
response other than the dismissal of Minister 
Woodford, made it evident that the Spanish 
government was determined upon war. The 
United States therefore on April 22 began 
actual warfare by instituting a blockade of 
Havana and other ports of the island of 
Cuba. 1 

1 The blockade of Cuban ports was proclaimed by President 
McKinley as follows : — 

** Whereas, by a joint resolution passed by the Congress and 
approved April 20 , 1898, and communicated to the govern¬ 
ment of Spain, it was demanded that said government at once 
relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba 
and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban 
waters, and the President of the United States was directed and 
empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United 
States and to call into the actual service of the United States the 
military of the several States to such an extent as might be 
necessary to carry said resolution into effect ; 

“ Whereas, in carrying into effect said resolution, the Presi¬ 
dent of the United States deems it necessary to set on foot and 

5 65 


History up to Date 

For this blockade there were several excellent 
reasons. Havana was to a large extent depend- 
Reasons for ent upon the United States for food 
the Blockade supplies. By cutting off these sup¬ 
plies it was only a question of time until the 
army of General Blanco would have to be put 
on short rations. A strict blockade would 
prevent the arrival of reinforcements from 

maintain a blockade of the north coast of Cuba, including all 
the ports on said coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and 
the port of Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba : — 

“ Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the 
United States, in order to enforce said resolution, do hereby 
declare and proclaim that the United States of America have 
instituted and will maintain a blockade on the northwest of 
Cuba, including ports on said coast between Cardenas and Bahia 
Honda and the port of Cienfuegos on the southwest of Cuba 
aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United States and the 
law of nations applicable to such cases. An efficient force will 
be posted so as to prevent the entrance and exit of vessels from 
the ports aforesaid. Any neutral vessel approaching any of said 
ports or attempting to leave the same without notice or knowledge 
of such blockade will be duly warned by the commander of 
the blockading forces, who will indorse in her register the fact 
and date of such warning, and where such indorsement was 
made, and if same vessel shall again attempt to enter any 
blockade, she will be captured and sent to the nearest con¬ 
venient port for such proceedings against her and her cargo as 
may be deemed advisable. 

“ Neutral vessels lying in any of said ports at the time of the 
establishment of such blockade will be allowed thirty days to 
issue therefrom.” 


66 


Cuban Coast Blockaded 

Spain. It was believed that if the residents of 
Havana were compelled to undergo privations, 
the reduction of the capital of the island would 
be the easier, and the earlier plans of campaign 
contemplated the taking of Havana among the 
first moves of war. 

Notice of the blockade was issued to the 
nations of the world with the announcement 
that the United States would not resort to 
privateering; that neutral flags would protect 
the enemy’s goods, with the exception of con¬ 
traband of war; that neutral goods not contra¬ 
band of war would not be liable to confiscation 
under the enemy’s flag; and that blockades to 
be effective must be binding. 

To enforce the blockade of Cuba the North 
Atlantic squadron, commanded by Acting Rear- 
Admiral Sampson, was directed to proceed 
from Key West to Havana, and just about the 
time the President’s proclamation of a blockade 
was made public the first of the United States 
war-ships was sighted off the coast of Cuba by 
the lookout in Morro Castle, in Havana. 

Prior to the war with Spain the principal 
stations at which the United States had its war¬ 
ships were the northern station, at New York; 
the Pacific station, at San Francisco; the Euro- 
67 


History up to Date 

pean station, at Lisbon ; and the Asiatic station, 
at Hong Kong. 

When it seemed that war was inevitable, 
the European station was abandoned, and the 
cruiser and two gunboats that had been stationed 
there were ordered to this side of the Atlantic. 
The battle-ship “ Oregon ” was ordered to 
proceed from San Francisco around South 
America to Key West. When active prepara¬ 
tions for war were begun the United States 
organized its war-ships on the Atlantic coast 
into three squadrons : — 

Organization The patrol squadron, under com- 
of the fleets mand of Commodore J. A. Howell. 

The flying squadron, under command of 
Commodore Winfield Scott Schley. 

The blockading squadron, under command 
of Captain W. T. Sampson, appointed Acting 
Rear-Admiral. 

The patrol squadron was designed to protect 
the seaports of the North Atlantic coast. The 
cruiser “ San Francisco ” was made the flagship 
of Commodore Howell. New York was 
selected as the station of this squadron, to 
which were assigned several auxiliary cruisers, 
merchantmen,and pleasure yachts, purchased by 
the government and armed with light guns, and 
68 



Rear-Admiral W. T. Sampson. 

















































Cuban Coast Blockaded 

several old-fashioned monitors manned by 
members of the naval militia. 

The flying squadron under Commodore 
Schley was stationed at Hampton Roads. 
It was composed of the armored cruiser 
“ Brooklyn,” flagship, the battle-ship “ Mas¬ 
sachusetts,” the battle-ship “ Texas,” and 
the protected cruisers “ Minneapolis ” and 
“ Columbia.” 

Composed, as it was, of fast vessels, the 
object of this squadron as organized by the 
Navy Department was twofold. It was well 
located to protect the middle coast. Its speed 
was such that in the event of the appearance 
of a fleet of the enemy either in the vicinity of 
the patrol squadron to the north or the block¬ 
ading squadron to the south, it could quickly 
reinforce either fleet. 

The third squadron, the one at first utilized 
in blockading Havana, was by far the larger and 
Sampson's stronger one. As originally organ- 
Squadron j zec i jt included the armored cruiser 
“ New York,” flagship; the battle-ships “ Iowa” 
and “ Indiana,” the cruisers “ Montgomery,” 
“Marblehead,” “ Cincinnati,” and “ Detroit,” 
the torpedo boats “ Porter,” “ Winslow,” 
u Cushing,” “ Dupont,” “ Ericsson,” and 
69 


History up to Date 

“ Foote,” and the gunboats “ Nashville,” 
cc Castine,” “ Wilmington,” and “Newport.” 
It was soon increased by four monitors, the 
“Puritan,” the “ Miantonomoh,” the “Terror,” 
and the “ Amphitrite.” 

The one other fleet of the United States 
besides those on the Atlantic coast, that was 
destined to play a prominent part in the war, 
was the Asiatic squadron at Hong Kong, 
commanded by Commodore Dewey. Of this 
fleet the largest vessel was the protected cruiser 
“ Olympia,” flagship. Commodore Dewey 
had also the protected cruiser “ Baltimore,” 
the protected cruiser “ Raleigh,” the protected 
cruiser “ Boston,” the gunboat “ Concord,” and 
the gunboat “ Petrel.” To these vessels about 
the time the war began he added two colliers. 


70 


CHAPTER XIX 


WAR FORMALLY DECLARED 

President McKinley’s ultimatum, after its 
rejection by the Spanish cabinet, left Spain no 
other course than war, and on Sunday, April 
24, 1898, a decree formally declaring war was 
gazetted in Madrid. In this decree Spain an¬ 
nounced her intention to adhere with strictness 
to the principles of international law, reserving 
the right of privateering, but otherwise conform¬ 
ing to the declaration of Paris. Spain declared 
that the provocation for the war had come 
from the United States, and that it was the 
“ detestable conduct ” of that nation that had 
caused the complication. 

There had been much discussion in the 
United States as to whether a formal declara- 
Declaration tion of war was necessary. It was 
of War argued by many that the act of Con¬ 
gress, the war-making power under the Con¬ 
stitution, which authorized the president to 
use the military and naval forces against Spain, 
71 


History up to Date 

was all that was needed. Several Spanish 
steamships had, however, been seized by the 
United States fleet off Havana, and it was 
thought advisable by the administration that 
a declaration should be made. Accordingly, on 
Monday, April 25, the day after Spain had 
declared war, President McKinley sent a mes¬ 
sage to Congress urging that such action be 
at once taken. Within six hours from the 
time his message went to Congress he had 
signed a bill which both houses had passed, 
declaring that war existed between Spain and 
the United States. This act read: — 

First, That war be and the same is hereby declared 
to exist and that war has existed since the 21st day 
of April, a. d. 1898, including said day, between 
the United States of America and the kingdom of 
Spain. 

Second, That the President of the United States 
be and he is hereby directed and empowered to use 
the entire land and naval forces of the United States 
and to call into active service of the United States 
the militia of the several States to such an extent as 
may be necessary to carry this resolution into effect. 

By the joint resolution of Congress previ¬ 
ously adopted President McKinley had alreadv 
been authorized to call out the militia of the 
72 


War Formally Declared 

States, and he had already done so. A proc¬ 
lamation issued on April 23 called for 125,000 
First Call volunteers, apportioned among the 
for Troops several States and Territories and 
the District of Columbia according to popu¬ 
lation, to serve for two years, unless sooner 
discharged. The President’s call for volun¬ 
teers was practically addressed to the national 
guards of the various States, but the quota of 
volunteers was distributed regardless of the 
strength of the State military organizations. 
Under this system New York was called upon 
to furnish the largest number of troops, 12,513, 
and Pennsylvania next, with 10,769. Nevada 
escaped with a quota of 138 men, and from 
Idaho, Georgia, Montana, North Dakota, Ver¬ 
mont, and Utah the number required in each 
case was less than one thousand. 

To raise money for carrying on the war, 
the same day the President issued the call for 
troops. Representative Dingley of Maine, the 
father of the Dingley tariff law, introduced into 
the House a war revenue bill. At about the 
same time the work of protecting all the prin¬ 
cipal harbors along the Atlantic coast was be¬ 
gun, submarine mines and torpedoes were laid 
in the channels, and an elaborate system of 

73 


History up to Date 

electrical signals was devised to give warning 
of the approach of a hostile fleet. 1 

1 President McKinley’s message of April 25 was as 
follows: — 

“To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

States of America: — 

“ I transmit to the Congress for its consideration and appro¬ 
priate action copies of correspondence recently had with the 
representative of Spain in the United States, with the United 
States Minister at Madrid, and through the latter with the 
government of Spain, showing the action taken under the joint 
resolution approved April 20, 1898, for the recognition of the 
independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the gov¬ 
ernment of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the 
island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from 
Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the 
United States to use the land and naval forces of the United 
States to carry these resolutions into effect. 

“ Upon communicating to the Spanish Minister in Washing¬ 
ton the demand which it became the duty of the Executive to 
address to the government of Spain in obedience to said reso¬ 
lution, the Minister asked for his passports and withdrew. 
The United States Minister at Madrid was in turn notified by 
the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs that the withdrawal 
of the Spanish representative from the United States had termi¬ 
nated diplomatic relations between the two countries and that 
official communications between their respective representatives 
ceased therewith. 

“I commend to your special attention the note addressed 
to the United States Minister at Madrid by the Spanish Min¬ 
ister for Foreign Affairs, on the 21st instant, whereby the fore¬ 
going notification was conveyed. It will be perceived there¬ 
from that the government of Spain, having cognizance of the 

74 


War Formally Declared 

joint resolution of the United States Congress, and in view of 
the things which the President is thereby authorized to do, 
responds by treating the reasonable demands of this govern¬ 
ment as measures of hostility, following with that instant and 
complete severance of relations by its action which, by the 
usage of nations, accompanies an existent state of war between 
sovereign powers. 

“ The position of Spain being thus made known and the 
demands of the United States being denied, with a complete 
rupture of intercourse by the act of Spain, I have been con¬ 
strained in exercise of the power and authority conferred upon 
me by the resolution aforesaid to proclaim, under date of April 
2a, 1898, a blockade of certain ports of the north coast of 
Cuba, lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and of the 
port of Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba ; and further, 
in exercise of my constitutional powers, and using the authority 
conferred upon me by act of Congress, approved April 22, 
1898, to issue my proclamation dated April 23, calling for 
volunteers in order to carry into effect the said resolution of 
April 20, 1898, copies of these proclamations being hereto 
appended. 

“ In view of the measures so taken, and with a view to the 
adoption of such other measures as may be necessary to enable 
me to carry out the expressed will of Congress of the United 
States in the premises, I now recommend to your honorable 
body, the executive body, the adoption of a joint resolution 
declaring that a state of war exists between the United States 
of America and the kingdom of Spain, and I urge speedy 
action thereon to the end that the definition of the international 
status of the United States as a belligerent power may become 
known, and the assertion of all the rights and the maintenance 
of all its duties in the conduct of a public war maybe assured.” 


75 


CHAPTER XX 


FIRST MOVES OF WAR 

The United States in beginning the war 
against Spain set out to do four things : to 
capture the Philippine Islands in the Pacific 
and destroy the Spanish fleet there ; to block¬ 
ade Havana and the other ports of the north¬ 
ern coast of Cuba and the port of Cienfuegos 
on the southwest; to capture any Spanish 
ships that were carrying contraband of war or 
were trying to run the blockade ; to destroy 
the fleet of Spain under Admiral Camara, which 
had been mobilized at the Cape Verde Islands. 

Commodore Dewey, commanding the Asi¬ 
atic squadron of the United States Navy, was at 
Dewey Hong Kong when war was declared. 
ordered to Immediately on the declaration of 
Manila war by United States, instruc¬ 
tions were sent to him to move against 
Manila, the capital of the Philippines. No 
sooner had the United States and Spain made 
declarations of war than Great Britain issued a 
76 



Rear-Admiral Dewey. 















First Moves of War 

proclamation of neutrality. In accordance with 
the terms of this proclamation, Admiral Dewey 
had to take his squadron away from Hong 
Kong, a British port, within twenty-four hours. 
He moved to Mirs Bay, a Chinese port, only 
a few miles away, where he continued his pre¬ 
parations, and awaited the arrival of Mr. Wil¬ 
liams, the United States Consul at Manila. 

On the arrival of Mr. Williams, Commo¬ 
dore Dewey, in the last week of April, set sail 
for Manila with his fleet: the flagship, the 
“ Olympia,” commanded by Captain Gridley ; 
the “ Baltimore,” commanded by Captain 
Dyer ; the £C Raleigh,” commanded by Captain 
Coghlan; the <c Boston,” commanded by Cap¬ 
tain Wildes; the c< Concord,” commanded by 
Commander Walker; and the “Petrel,” com¬ 
manded by Commander Wood. 

As for the blockade of Cuban ports, the 
fleet of Rear-Admiral Sampson set sail from 
Key West at daybreak on April 22, and at 
five o’clock that afternoon was sighted advan¬ 
cing on Havana from the westward. 

Within a few hours after the departure of 
First Prizes Admiral Sampson’s fleet from Key 
of the War West, the gunboat “ Nashville” re¬ 
turned to that port escorting the big Spanish 
77 


History up to Date 

freight ship, the “ Buena Ventura,” the first 
prize of the war. 

Later in the same day the Spanish merchant¬ 
man “ Pedro,” loaded with iron, beer, and rice, 
was captured as she was leaving Havana for 
Santiago de Cuba, Captain Bonet, command¬ 
ing her, learning that the American fleet had 
been sighted approaching Havana, feared that 
the city was to be bombarded and hurriedly 
left the harbor. 

The “Pedro” was sighted by the “New 
York,” Admiral Sampson’s flagship, going at 
full speed. The “ New York ” started in pur¬ 
suit and caught her after a chase of ten miles. 
Several of the lighter guns were fired at her, 
but not until the “ New York ” let fly a heavy 
shot did the “ Pedro ” heave to. 

While the war talk was crystallizing into 
declarations of war by Spain and the United 
Spain's Fleet States, Spain had been mobilizing as 
started West powerful a fleet as she could muster 
at the Cape Verde Islands. The armored 
cruisers “ Vizcaya” and “ Almirante Oquendo,” 
which had been at Havana together, recrossed 
the Atlantic to rejoin two other cruisers, the 
“Infanta Maria Teresa” and the “Cristobal 
Colon.” The fleet also included three fast tor- 
78 


First Moves of War 

pedo boat destroyers, the cc Furor/' “ Pluton,” 
and “ Terror/’ three torpedo boats, the 
“ Ariete,” cc Azor,” and “ Rayo,” the transport 
“ Ciudad de Cadiz,” and the armed collier 
“San Francisco.” 

This squadron was commanded by Admiral 
Cervera, with Admiral Villamil in command of 
the torpedo boat destroyers. 

Before the departure of Admiral Cervera 
and his men from the Cape Verdes the Spanish 
sailors knelt before a shrine of the Virgin Mary 
and took a solemn vow never to return to 
Spain except as victors. Admiral Cervera 
received long-expected sailing orders and set 
sail on April 29. 

The ships left St. Vincent in two divisions. 
The first, in which were the three torpedo 
boats, the collier and the transport, turned 
northward to the Canary Islands, en route for 
Spain. In only a few hours they returned to 
St. Vincent, one of the torpedo boats having 
been somewhat damaged in a collision with the 
transport. After delaying a short time for re¬ 
pairs the torpedo boat flotilla set out again for 
Spain. The other division of the fleet, the 
four armored cruisers, commanded by Admiral 
Cervera, and the three torpedo boat destroyers, 
79 


History up to Date 

commanded by Admiral Villamil, set out in a 
westerly direction. 

The departure of this fleet at the time it did 
was largely due to Portugal, to whom the 
Cape Verde Islands belong, having declared 
neutrality. The United States had brought 
some pressure on Portugal to attain this, and 
it was feared that the United States, unless 
Portugal declared neutrality, would regard her 
as an ally of Spain and act accordingly. 


80 


CHAPTER XXI 


THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 

Up to the time that Commodore Dewey’s fleet 
set sail from Mirs Bay for Manila there had 
been little interest taken in the United States, 
outside of commercial circles, in the Philip¬ 
pines. These islands were, however, of con¬ 
siderable importance. Luzon was the largest 
of a group stretching nine hundred miles north 
and south and five hundred miles east and 
west, in the Pacific Ocean, south of Japan and 
east of China. Since their discovery by Ma¬ 
gellan early in the sixteenth century, they had 
been under Spanish dominion, except for a 
brief period when the British held Manila, the 
capital of Luzon. 

Spain had found these islands a valuable and 
apparently inexhaustible source of revenue. 
Wealth of Military governors, sent out from 
the Islands Madrid, had returned home with 
enormous fortunes. The Jesuits, who had 
early established missions, had grown rich and 
6 81 


History up to Date 

powerful in the island. In mineral products 
the Philippines could boast of coal, gold, and 
iron, all of them in paying quantities, although 
little effort had been made toward systematic 
mining. In vegetable products there was pro¬ 
fusion and variety. In Manila there was one 
tobacco factory that employed six thousand 
hands. The Philippine Islands produced the 
greater part of the world’s supply of hemp. 
Coffee, tea, sugar, rice, and many other kinds 
of fruit and grain were raised in abundance. 
Many parts of the islands were still in the pos¬ 
session of uncivilized tribes. The population 
of the group was estimated at from seven mil¬ 
lions up. The population of Manila, the chief 
city and capital, was about two hundred and 
fifty thousand. 

That the United States had strong commer¬ 
cial interests in the Philippines is shown by the 
fact that the United States Consul there in the 
year 1897 supervised more export trade than 
all the consuls of other nations put together. 

Natives of the islands in 1896, under the 
leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo, had risen 
Emilio against the Spanish authorities. The 
Aguinaldo i eac [ ers belonged to the higher and 
better-educated native classes, and they exerted 
82 


The Philippine Islands 

in every way possible their influence against 
murder and pillage. 

General Pinero de Rivera, the Spanish Cap¬ 
tain-General in the Philippines, had brought 
this revolution to an end and accomplished 
what he and the Madrid government were 
pleased to call a pacification of the island by 
making many promises of reforms and by pay¬ 
ing to the leaders of the rebels a considerable 
sum of money in return for which they agreed 
to leave the island. 

Despite the claims of the captain-general 
as to the pacification of the islands, large 
bands of the rebels continued to devastate 
Bulacan, Nueva, Excija, Pangasis, and Tarlac. 
Many villages were burned down, and the rice 
harvests were destroyed by fire. Reforms 
promised by the Spaniards were not carried 
out. Prisoners, who were implicated in the 
rebellion of 1896, were not freed, as had been 
agreed. The turbulence broke forth anew in 
March, 1898, when attempts were made to 
collect taxes. 

The first act of the new movement was an 
attack on the cable station at Bolinao. On the 
Rebellion of night of March 7 all the land lines 
the Filipinos connecting the cable with Manila 
83 


History up to Date 

were destroyed. Troops sent from Manila 
soon regained and held the cable station, but 
they made little headway against the rebels. 
Although poorly armed, the rebels in the 
mountainous and wooded districts through 
which the troops were compelled to pass never 
hesitated to attack a superior force. 

If the uprising had begun only in one place, 
the work of suppressing it might have been 
easier, but telegrams kept pouring into Manila 
from various sections of the country asking for 
reinforcements. The situation for all Euro¬ 
peans was full of danger. Rumors came in 
from everywhere of the wrath of the insurgents 
wreaked on the priests, of Spanish ladies taken 
prisoners. Telegraph lines were cut and the 
railroad destroyed, the object being to prevent 
the hurrying of troops to towns the rebels had 
determined to pillage. Before the arrival of 
Aguinaldo from Hong Kong, little effort was 
made to restrain the rebels from pillaging and 
violence. 

Upon hearing that the American fleet had 
set sail for Manila, the Spaniards made every 
effort to rally the natives to their support. 
Captain-General Augustin issued a proclama¬ 
tion in which he declared the Americans would 
84 


The Philippine Islands 

throw down the temples, ravage the women, 
pollute the tombs, and seize the property the 
inhabitants of the islands had laid by for their 
old age. His proclamation had little effect on 
the Filipinos, and so threatening did their atti¬ 
tude become, even those who still professed 
allegiance to Spain, that many of the native 
regiments in the garrisons of Manila were dis¬ 
armed. 


85 


CHAPTER XXII 


THE BATTLE OF CAVITE 

Commodore Dewey reached the Philippines 
and entered the Bay of Manila on the evening 
of April 30. Corregidor Island, at the entrance 
to the bay, was known to be well fortified, but 
Commodore Dewey decided to enter the bay 
at once. Led by the flagship “ Olympia,” the 
“ Baltimore,” “ Raleigh,” “ Petrel,” <c Con¬ 
cord,” and “ Boston,” in the order named, 
steamed quietly past Corregidor. It was eight 
o’clock in the evening and bright moonlight. 
Not until the flagship was a mile beyond the 
fortress was the entrance of the fleet dis¬ 
covered. A heavy shot went screaming over 
the <c Raleigh.” Another, fired at the cc Olym¬ 
pia,” fell astern of her. The “ Raleigh,” 
“ Concord,” and “ Boston ” took up the chal¬ 
lenge. Some of the <c Concord’s ” shells fell 
inside the Corregidor batteries, and they were 
silent. 


86 


The Battle of Cavite 

Slowly the squadron advanced into the bay, 
the men sleeping beside their guns. Daybreak 
Meeting of found Commodore Dewey’s fleet 
the Fleets within five miles of the city of Ma¬ 
nila. Then the squadron of Spain, commanded 
by Rear-Admiral Montojo, was sighted. Mon- 
tojo had intended to make a stand in Subig 
Bay, some distance from Manila, but Dewey 
had arrived before he had time to carry out 
his plans. The Spanish fleet lay under the 
protecting guns of the fortress of Cavite. The 
admiral’s flag was flying from the “ Reina 
Cristina,” a protected cruiser of 3,500 tons. 
Moored just ahead of her was the protected 
cruiser “Castilla,” of 3,200 tons. Astern 
were the cruisers “ Don Juan de Austria,” 
“ Don Antonio de Ulloa,” “ Isla de Cuba,” 
“ Isla de Luzon,” and three gunboats of light 
draught. 

With the stars and stripes fluttering at their 
mastheads, the ships of the United States 
moved to the attack in line ahead, at a speed 
of eight knots. As they passed in front of 
the city of Manila land batteries there opened 
fire and sent a shell or two over the fleet. The 
“ Concord ” let go with two guns, but Commo¬ 
dore Dewey would not permit any more to 

87 


History up to Date 

be fired, as it was impossible to engage these 
batteries without dealing death and destruction 
to the city behind them. 

The batteries failing to stop the progress 
of the fleet, the Spaniards exploded two sub¬ 
marine mines in the bay. They had misjudged 
the position of Commodore Dewey’s ships, and 
though great volumes of water were thrown 
into the air, no damage was done to the ships. 
Though they knew not how many more mines 
lay ahead, onward steamed the American fleet 
without faltering. 

A few minutes later the shore battery at 
Cavite Point sent a shot over the “ Olympia ’ 
“Remember that nearly hit the battery in 
the ( Maine Manila. Soon the gunners of 
Spain got a better range, and shells from both 
the shore batteries and Admiral Montojo’s 
ships began to strike the water in the vicinity 
of the American ships. The heat was intense. 
The men, stripped to the waist, stood at their 
posts awaiting the word from Commodore 
Dewey. All was silent on the American fleet. 
Suddenly a Spanish shell burst directly over 
the United States fleet. 

From a boatswain’s mate at the after five- 
inch gun of the flagship came a hoarse cry, “ Re- 
88 



The Battle of Cavite. (From an Oil Painting.) 








The Battle of Cavite 

member the c Maine’ !” As if inspired by a 
mighty hatred for a common foe, there rose in 
unison from the throats of the five hundred 
men at the guns the cry, “ Remember the 
c Maine ’! ” The watchword was caught up in 
turrets and firerooms, wherever seaman or fire¬ 
man stood at his post. 

The “ Olympia ” was now ready to begin the 
fight. Commodore Dewey, his chief of staff, 
Commander Lamberton, with the executive 
officer, Lieutenant Rees, and the navigator, 
Lieutenant Calkins, were on the forward 
bridge. Captain Gridley, the commander of 
the “ Olympia,” was in the conning tower. 

At nineteen minutes before six o’clock, on 
the morning of May i, 1898, the battle of 
Cavite began, when Commodore Dewey turned 
to the conning tower and quietly said: “ You 
may fire when ready, Gridley.” 

“ Capture or destroy the Spanish squadron ” 
were the instructions that had been cabled to 
Dewey’s Commodore Dewey from Washing- 

Victories ton, and never were instructions 

better carried out than by the United States 
squadron in Manila Bay upon the 1st of 
May, 1898. “You may fire when ready, 
Gridley,” was the signal for a naval battle, at 
89 


History up to Date 

the end of which not one Spanish flag flew 
in Manila Bay, and not one Spanish vessel 
floated except as an American prize. Five 
times Commodore Dewey swept along the 
Spanish line, each time inflicting terrible dam¬ 
age on Admiral Montojo’s fleet. Not an 
American was killed, not an American ship 
was sunk, yet the victory over the Spaniards 
was complete. 

At the signal from the commodore, Captain 
Gridley gave the word, and the starboard eight- 
inch gun in the forward turret of the “ Olym¬ 
pia ” let go at the fortifications of Cavite. The 
“ Baltimore ” and “ Boston ” opened fire on the 
“ Castilla ” and the “ Reina Cristina/’ Spanish 
shells fell thick and fast around the flagship, 
which led the line straight to the centre of the 
Spanish line. A shell cut the rigging above the 
head of Commander Lamberton. Another 
passed just under where Commodore Dewey 
stood. 

When the “ Olympia” had approached within 
four thousand yards of Admiral Montojo’s 
position she changed her course and ran parallel 
to the Spanish line, the other ships following. 
“ Open with all guns,” said Commodore Dewey, 
and a hurricane of shells rained upon the 
9 ° 



Spanish Flag-ship “ Reina Cristina,” May i, 1898 










The Battle of Cavite 

enemy’s vessels and on the protecting fortifi¬ 
cations of Cavite. 

Despite the awful bombardment the Span¬ 
iards made a gallant fight and Commodore 
Damage Dewey’s ships were constantly under 
to Ameri - a hot fire. A shot struck the “ Balti- 
can Ships m0 re ” and passed clear through her. 
Another ripped up her deck, disabled a six- 
inch gun, and exploded a box of ammunition, 
wounding eight men. On the “ Olympia ” 
the signal halyards were cut from Lieutenant 
Brumby’s hands as he stood on the after bridge. 
On the “ Boston ” a shell burst in an ensign’s 
stateroom, starting a hot fire, which was quickly 
extinguished. A shell passed through the 
“ Boston’s ” foremast, just in front of Captain 
Wildes on the bridge. 

Four times the American vessels swept the 
Spanish line from a distance of four thousand 
yards. Lieutenant Calkins, the “ Olympia’s ” 
navigator, then told Commodore Dewey he be¬ 
lieved he could take the ships in nearer shore. 
With the lead to watch the depth of the water, 
the flagship started over the course for the fifth 
time, running this time within two thousand 
yards of the Spanish vessels. Even the Ameri¬ 
can six-pounders were effective at this range, and 
9 1 


History up to Date 

the Spanish fleet soon showed the results that 
were being accomplished, by their weakening 
fire. Three of the Spanish ships were seen to 
be burning as this run was finished, and Com¬ 
modore Dewey decided to stop the fighting 
temporarily that his men might have their 
breakfast. 

It was now twenty-five minutes before eight 
o’clock, and the men had been at their guns 
Stopped for for nearly two hours with nothing to 
Breakfast sustain them but one cup of coffee. 
The American ships accordingly withdrew be¬ 
hind some foreign shipping on the other side 
of the bay until shortly before eleven o’clock, 
when the signal for close action went up. This 
time the “ Baltimore ” led with the flagship 
following and the other ships as before. At 
sixteen minutes past eleven o’clock the “ Balti¬ 
more ” began making target hits on the Span¬ 
ish ships. They returned the fire very slowly, 
and Commodore Dewey sent the “ Raleigh,” 
the “ Boston,” the “ Concord,” and the “ Pet¬ 
rel ” into the inner harbor to destroy what 
was left of Admiral Montojo’s fleet. 

The “ Petrel,” owing to her light draught, 
was able to move within one thousand yards 
of the enemy, where she could inflict tremen- 
9 2 




1 



“San Antonio de Ulloa,” May i, 1898 















































The Battle of Cavite 

dous damage. The other ships, though at a 
greater distance, still did effective work, and 
soon Spain’s colors had vanished except on a 
battery along the coast. Admiral Montojo’s 
flagship and the “ Castilla ” had been burning 
fiercely for a long time, and the Spaniards had 
been forced to abandon their ships one by one. 
The “ Don Antonio de Llloa” was the last 
vessel to be abandoned, just before she lurched 
over and sank. 

A white flag was hoisted on the Cavite 
arsenal at half-past twelve, the Spanish colors 
being hauled down, and then Lieutenant 
Hughes, with an armed boat’s crew from the 
“Petrel,” went into the inner harbor and set 
fire to the “ Don Juan de Austria,” the “ Mar¬ 
ques del Duero,” the “ Isla de Cuba,” and 
the “ Correo.” The transport “ Manila” and 
some smaller vessels were taken as prizes. 


93 


CHAPTER XXIII 


CAVITE ARSENAL SEIZED 

Commodore Dewey, the morning following 
the battle off Cavite, ordered Commander Lam- 
berton to go to the naval arsenal of Cavite, 
where the day before a white flag had been 
raised, and take possession. The “Petrel” took 
him within five hundred yards of the landing, 
when he saw to his surprise that the arsenal 
was occupied still by about eight hundred sea¬ 
men armed with Mauser rifles. Commander 
Lamberton ordered the guns of the <c Petrel ” 
manned and directed that if he had not returned 
in an hour the gunners should open fire on 
the arsenal. 

Captain Sostoa, ranking next to Admiral 
Montojo, received Commander Lamberton. 
When Commander Lamberton expressed sur¬ 
prise at seeing the Spaniards under arms, after 
having surrendered the day before. Captain 
Sostoa declared that the white flag displayed 
did not mean that they had surrendered, but 
that the flag had been hoisted in order that they 
94 



Main Entrance to Cavite. Spanish 

























Cavite Arsenal Seized 

might remove the women and children to 
places of safety. To this Commander Lam- 
berton replied that when the white flag went up 
no other interpretation could be put upon it 
than unconditional surrender, and that the 
women and children ought not to have been 
there, anyway. 

Captain Sostoa’s reply to this was that the 
American fleet had come so early that there had 
Arsenal been no time to remove the women 
surrendered anc f children, and if the Americans 
had not begun the fight so soon the women 
would have been out of the way. Commander 
Lamberton reminded him that the Spaniards 
had fired the first shot, but added that he was 
not there to discuss the past. Admiral Dewey 
had sent him there to take possession of the 
arsenal. All the Spaniards there must lay 
down their arms and surrender, or the ships 
would open fire. 

The Spanish captain pleaded for more time. 
He asked that the terms of surrender be 
written out, and Commander Lamberton 
wrote : — 

“ Without further delay all Spanish officers and 
men must be withdrawn, and no buildings or stores must 
be injured. As Commodore Dewey does not wish 
95 


History up to Date 

further hostility with the Spanish naval forces, the 
Spanish officers will be paroled and the forces at the 
arsenal will deliver their small arms.” 

The hour’s time, at the end of which the 
“ Petrel’s ” guns were to open fire, had nearly 
expired. Commander Lamberton decided to 
grant Captain Sostoa’s request for more time, 
and gave him until noon to surrender. He 
said that if the white flag was not hoisted at 
that time the fleet would shell the arsenal. 
Commander Lamberton then returned to the 
“ Petrel.” At a quarter before eleven the white 
flag was again hoisted over the Cavite arsenal. 
When the Americans went there in the after¬ 
noon to take possession it was found that every 
seaman had marched off to Manila, carrying 
his Mauser with him. 

On the same day Commodore Dewey blew 
up six batteries at the entrance to Manila Bay, 
cut the cable connecting the islands with the 
outside world, and established the blockade of 
Manila. The next day he swept the bay for 
torpedoes. 

Thus ten days after the beginning of the 
war Manila found itself in bad straits. Spanish 
property to the value of $6,000,000 had been 
96 


Cavite Arsenal Seized 

destroyed or captured, 1,200 Spaniards had 
been killed and wounded, among the latter 
Results of Admiral Montojo and many of his 
Dewey's officers. The only way for any news 
to get out of Manila was by such 
vessels as Commodore Dewey permitted to go 
to Hong Kong. In accomplishing these great 
results, the American fleet had not a man killed 
and had only eight men wounded. The dam¬ 
age done to the ships by the Spanish shells 
amounted to only about $5,000. 

Though this victory made Dewey a rear- 
admiral and won for him the thanks of Con¬ 
gress, his troubles were by no means ended 
with the destruction of the Spanish fleet in the 
Philippines and the capture of the arsenal at 
Cavite. A large amount of ammunition was 
used in destroying the fleet, and the nearest 
American base of supplies was San Francisco. 
It was impossible to purchase ammunition any¬ 
where in the Far East, owing to the proclama¬ 
tions of neutrality. It would be many days at 
the best before supplies sent out from the 
United States could reach him. 

Still another problem that confronted him 
was the occupation of towns or forts which 
he captured. He had only a limited number 
7 97 


History up to Date 

of marines. He was forced to parole the foes 
he conquered. The insurgents, whom Agui- 
naldo, the leader of the former rebellion, had 
now taken charge of, formed a third difficult 
factor in the situation, for American humanity 
decreed that they must be kept from ravage 
and bloodshed. Having carried out his in¬ 
structions to destroy the Spanish fleet in the 
Philippines, there was nothing more, appar¬ 
ently, for Admiral Dewey to do but to hold 
what he had and to wait for the authorities 
in Washington to act. 


98 


CHAPTER XXIV 


Spain’s many troubles 

Spain early sought to ally with her some of 
the other nations of Europe. Two days after 
declaring war she issued a note to the Powers 
expressing regret at being compelled to appeal 
to force in order to “ repel the scandalous 
aggression of the United States.” These 
efforts of Spain to interest the Powers in her 
behalf proved futile. England had already 
issued a proclamation of neutrality. France, 
Russia, Italy, and Denmark soon followed her 
example. Germany and Austria, while mak¬ 
ing no formal declarations of neutrality, inti¬ 
mated their intention of occupying neutral 
positions. China and Japan, most of the South 
American republics, and the remaining nations 
of Europe soon joined the ranks of the neu¬ 
trals. Portugal, the last hope, issued a procla¬ 
mation of neutrality on April 29, and dying 
Spain was left alone to battle with the strong 
young republic of the west. 

99 


History up to Date 

With the scanty means at her command, 
Spain nevertheless began energetic preparations 
for war. Work on war-ships building or under¬ 
going repairs at Cadiz was hurried on with 
all speed possible. English engineers were 
hired at high wages to assist in the navy’s 
preparations. All the coal obtainable was 
purchased. The torpedo boat destroyer “ De¬ 
structor ” was despatched on an unsuccessful 
cruise after American yachts in the Mediterra¬ 
nean. Admiral Cervera’s fleet was ordered 
from the Cape Verde Islands to Cuba. 

It was soon manifest that Spain, in resorting 
to war, was by no means sanguine of success. 
Attitude of Senor Silvela, in a speech to the 
Carlists Spanish Cortes on April 30, said the 

war was necessary to satisfy Spanish honor, but 
that it was for the Cortes and not the Cabinet to 
say when the war had gone far enough. When 
the news of the destruction of Admiral Monto- 
jo’s fleet in the Philippines became public, it was 
necessary to put Madrid under martial law to 
prevent rioting. The Queen Regent sought to 
unify the Spanish people to defend the realms 
of her little son Alfonso XIII., but the Carlists, 
followers of Don Carlos, pretender to the Span¬ 
ish throne, made the most of their opportuni- 
100 


Spain’s Many Troubles 

ties. Senor Salmeron declared openly in the 
Cortes : — 

u We expend millions to maintain the monarchy, 
but have not enough to buy ironclads. Whoever 
will destroy the existing regime will be a great 
patriot. ” 

A mob assembled in front of the house of 
Premier Sagasta and hooted him. Another 
crowd assembled before the residence of Gen¬ 
eral ^Weyler, former Captain-General of Cuba, 
and cheered him vociferously. Circulars were 
issued upholding Don Carlos as the only true 
patriot in Spain, and fiercely attacking the gov¬ 
ernment for treachery. It was urged in these 
circulars that the time for a revolution had 
come. 

One of the first effects of the war was to 
cause a sudden rise in food prices in both 
Bread Riots Europe and America. The great 
in Spain quantities of supplies purchased by 
both governments, the prospect of export trade 
being seriously interfered with by hostilities, 
and artificial forcing up of the prices by skilful 
speculators, combined to produce an upward 
movement, particularly in the cost of wheat, 
that caused much suffering to the poorer classes. 

IOI 


History up to Date 

Nowhere was the increased cost of provisions 
felt more than in poverty-stricken Spain. The 
government adopted drastic measures to keep 
food in the country. A bill passed the Spanish 
Cortes on May 5, taking effect immediately, 
totally prohibiting the exportation of wheat, 
flour, and potatoes. The duties on provisions 
imported were also reduced. 

Bread riots followed at Valencia, Gyon, 
Talavera de la Reyna, Caceres, Catalan, 
Badajos, Alicante, Linares, and other places, in 
most of which martial law was at once pro¬ 
claimed. In Linares fourteen rioters were 
shot and killed. In Alicante the rioters looted 
and burned some bonded warehouses. Provi¬ 
sion stores in all parts of Spain were gutted, 
and merchants’ offices broken into and robbed. 


102 


CHAPTER XXV 


NEW CABINET FORMED 

Hampered by poverty, impoverished by dis¬ 
honesty in high places, already worn out by 
strife long continued in the Philippines and 
Cuba, Spain shortly after the destruction of 
Admiral Montojo’s fleet was nearly rent in 
twain. In the second week of May Sagasta, 
the Premier, despairingly exclaimed: — 

“ I believed that the first cannon-shot fired by the 
United States against our troops would be a signal for 
Sagasta in the union and fraternity of all Spaniards, 
Despair as a q are equally affected by the assault of 
the United States. I was mistaken. Certain Parlia¬ 
mentary groups are in disagreement with the govern¬ 
ment and have the pretension to make conditions in 
return for their support. They thus paralyze our 
efforts and diminish the strength which is indis¬ 
pensable to the government. Spain is desolated and 
ruined by internal troubles.” 

Mobs were marching the streets of many of 
the Spanish cities, demanding bread. Sub¬ 
scriptions for war funds which were opened in 
103 


History up to Date 

War, Lieutenant-General Correa ; Minister of 
Marine, Captain Aunon; Minister of the 
Colonies, Senor Romero Giron; Minister of 
Finance, Senor Lopez Puigcerver; Minister 
of the Interior, Senor F. R. Capdepon; Min¬ 
ister of Justice, Senor C. Groizard ; Minister 
of Public Instruction, Senor Gamazo. 

The portfolio of foreign affairs had first been 
offered to Senor Leon y Castillo, the Spanish 
Ambassador to France, who was looked upon 
as one of the ablest of the Spanish diplomats. 
There were rumors of an Anglo-American 
alliance, and the need of a particularly strong 
man as Minister of Foreign Affairs was realized. 
Senor Castillo would not accept the place, and 
Sagasta, after filling the place himself for a 
few days, gave it to the Duke Almadovar 
de Rios. 


CHAPTER XXVI 


CHANGES IN WASHINGTON 

In Washington, as in Madrid, the war made 
great changes, though of a different character. 
Cabinet Although President McKinley’s Cabi- 
Changes nei remained practically intact, John 
Sherman, Secretary of State, whose great age 
made the duties of his office too onerous for 
him, was succeeded by Judge William R. Day, 
an intimate friend of the President, who previ¬ 
ously had held the office of Assistant Secretary 
of State. Postmaster-General James A. Gary 
resigned, and was succeeded by Charles Emory 
Smith. Later when Judge Day was made pre¬ 
sident of the Peace Commission, John Hay, 
United States Ambassador to England, was 
recalled to become Secretary of State. 

The real changes in Washington were in the 
army and navy departments. In the Navy 
Department a strategy board had been organized. 
Another commission was selecting vessels 
suitable for charter or purchase. Bureau chiefs 
of both the army and navy were hurriedly 
107 


History up to Date 

gathering together supplies of all kinds to equip 
the volunteers. Camps where the volunteers 
were mobilized with regulars as speedily as 
possible were established at Chickamauga Park, 
Georgia, Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida, 
and other places. 

To officer the vastly increased land force of 
the United States President McKinley made 
Generals many appointments. Among the 
appointed fi rs t major-generals appointed were 
General Joseph Wheeler, who had been an 
intrepid cavalry leader on the Confederate side 
during the Civil War; General Fitzhugh Lee, 
former Consul-General in Cuba, who had also 
distinguished himself as a Confederate officer; 
Brigadier-General Joseph C. Breckinridge; 
Brigadier-General Elwell S. Otis; Brigadier- 
General William R. Shafter; Brigadier-General 
John J. Coppinger; and Brigadier-General H. 
C. Merriam. 

Several colonels in the regular army became 
brigadier-generals, among them Thomas F. 
Anderson, Jacob F. Kent, Samuel B. M. 
Young, and Guy V. Henry. Among the 
lieutenant-colonels who became brigadier- 
generals were Henry W. Lawton, Theodore 
Schwan, William Ludlow, and Adna R. Chaffee. 

108 


Changes in Washington 

These first appointments were made princi¬ 
pally from men whose knowledge of military 
affairs made them well qualified as army leaders. 
Later when a call for 75,000 more volunteers 
was issued, and it became necessary to appoint 
many additional officers of volunteers, political 
influence was exerted for a horde of applicants, 
and Washington became a battleground for 
army places. Even had the President chosen 
to oppose the wishes of his political friends, it 
was impossible for him in the crush of affairs 
to give much personal attention to the selection 
of officers. As a result, while most of the 
more important officers were men of military 
ability, many of the minor places were filled by 
“ sons of their fathers/’ 

Among the brigadier-generals appointed 
later by President McKinley were Colonel 
Robert H. Hall, of the Fourth United States 
Infantry; Colonel Edward V. Sumner, of the 
Seventh United States Cavalry; Colonel Peter 
S. Hains, of the engineer corps; Colonel 
George L. Gillespie, corps of engineers; Colo¬ 
nel Jacob Kline, of the Twenty-first United 
States Infantry. 

Of the brigadier-generals appointed who 
were not in the regular army were Colonel 


History up to Date 

Frederick D. Grant, a son of President U. S. 
Grant; Harrison Gray Otis, of California; 
Henry M. Duffield, of Michigan, a close friend 
of the Secretary of War; Charles King, of 
Wisconsin; Lucius F. Hubbard, of Minne¬ 
sota ; George A. Garretson, of Ohio, an inti¬ 
mate friend of both President McKinley and 
Senator Hanna, and a veteran officer of the Civil 
War ; William W. Gordon, of Georgia, a former 
Confederate soldier; Francis V. Greene, Colo¬ 
nel of the Seventy-first New York Volunteer 
Infantry, and James Rush Lincoln, of Iowa, a 
former Confederate officer and president of a 
military college. 

Of those who received minor appointments 
were John A. Logan, a son of General John A. 
Influence at Logan; Erskine Hewitt, a son of 
Work former Mayor Hewitt, of New York; 
Fred M. Alger, a son of the Secretary of War; 
James G. Blaine, a son of the late Secretary of 
State Blaine; William B. Allison, a nephew of 
Senator Allison; Francis P. Fremont, a son 
of General Fremont; Robert Sewall, a son 
of Senator Sewall; Joseph B. Foraker and 
Edward Murphy, sons of the Senators of those 
names; P. Bradlee Strong, a son of former 
Mayor Strong, of New York ; G. C. Creighton 

no 


Changes in Washington 

Webb, a relative of the Vanderbilts; Russell 
B. Harrison, son of former President Benjamin 
Harrison; Avery D. Andrews, former Police 
Commissioner of New York and son-in-law of 
General Schofield; Algernon Sartoris, grand¬ 
son of General U. S. Grant; Stewart Brice, son 
of former Senator Brice ; and Fitzhugh Lee, 
Jr., a son of the major-general. 

William Jennings Bryan, who had been the 
opponent of* McKinley in the election for 
President, raised a regiment, which from the 
fact that most of its members held the same 
political views as their leader became known as 
the “ Silver Battalion/’ Mr. Bryan was made 
colonel of the regiment. 


CHAPTER XXVII 


INCIDENTS OF THE BLOCKADE 

While the Asiatic squadron of the United 
States was meeting with such signal success in 
the Philippines, the blockading squadron under 
Rear-Admiral Sampson was by no means idle 
in the waters surrounding the island of Cuba. 
The first landing made by the navy in Cuba 
was merely that of a scouting expedition. On 
Sunday night, April 24, the little torpedo boat 
“ Porter ” ran in close to the north coast of the 
island. Lieutenant John C. Fremont, a son 
of the “ Path Finder,” already famous in Amer¬ 
ican annals, was put ashore. It took him only 
a few hours to ascertain what Acting Rear- 
Admiral Sampson wanted to know, and he then 
returned to the “ Porter,” without having been 
discovered by the Spaniards. 

Hardly a day passed for a few weeks after 
the beginning of the war that the navy did not 
take one or more Spanish prizes. One of the 
most interesting of these captures was that of 
the Compania Trasatlantica Espanol’s steamer 


Incidents of the Blockade 

cc Panama ” by the little lighthouse tender 
“ Mangrove, ” commanded by Lieutenant 
Commander W. H. Everett. 

While Havana harbor was tightly sealed by 
the blockading squadron the blockade runners 
Blockade occasionally managed to make one of 
running the other ports. One of the success¬ 
ful blockade runners was the mail steamer 
“ Montserrat.” This vessel had originally set 
out for Havana, but on approaching that port 
she was sighted and pursued by the American 
war-ships. She then turned and ran around 
the eastern end of Cuba to Cienfuegos. That 
she was not captured was a source of deep 
regret to the navy when it was learned that she 
had on board one thousand Spanish soldiers, 
half a million dollars in silver, and eighteen 
guns of large calibre, originally intended for 
Havana. 

Not only was the Navy Department active 
along the Cuban coast, but the War Depart¬ 
ment took steps to secure the co-operation 
of the insurgent soldiers under Gomez and 
Garcia in Cuba. Lieutenant Rowan was sent 
to Jamaica and thence to the southeastern part 
of Cuba, where he gained much valuable in¬ 
formation about the topography of the coun- 
8 113 


History up to Date 

try and the condition and strength of the 
Spanish troops. He set out from Stanns’ 
Bay, Jamaica, on April 24, at two o’clock in 
the morning, in a schooner provided by the 
Cuban Junta of Jamaica, and was landed on 
the south coast. He did not return until after 
he had met General Garcia and informed him 
of the War Department’s plans. 

It was expected by Captain-General Blanco 
and the residents of Havana that that city 
would be one of the first points of attack after 
the war with the United States began. This 
belief was strengthened by the appearance off 
the harbor of the blockading squadron. Most 
of the foreigners in Havana had departed be¬ 
fore the blockade was instituted, fearing both 
that the city might be bombarded, and that the 
blockade would result in a shortage of food 
supplies. While their fears in regard to the 
bombardment were not realized, it was not 
long after the blockade was established until 
food supplies of all kinds began to increase in 
price and decrease in quantity. 

To keep up the spirit of the people every 
method was resorted to. When the news of 
the destruction of Admiral Montojo’s fleet in 
the Philippines was received in the palace, it 
114 



General Maximo Gomez and His Staff. 
By permission of the New York Herald . 
















Incidents of the Blockade 

was given out that Admiral Dewey’s fleet 
had been entirely destroyed. The newspapers 
Havana published extras on the information 
during the issued by Captain-General Blanco, 
Blockade anc j there was a general illumination 
of Havana in honor of the “ Spanish victory.” 
Not only in the cafes and market-places, but 
among the military leaders, were plans gravely 
discussed for an expedition against Florida. 
“ We shall recapture the territory once ours,” 
was the boast of soldier and civilian alike. 

There were, however, strenuous efforts made 
on the part of the military authorities to be 
ready for an invasion. Large forces of men 
were put to work strengthening the batteries 
on either side of Havana harbor. Residents 
of Havana anticipated, and not without reason, 
that aid would come to them from Mexico and 
from some of the South American countries. 
Subscriptions to the “ Spanish war fund ” were 
opened in many South American cities, and not 
a few officers resigned their commissions in the 
armies of these countries to seek service with 
Spain. The countries themselves, for the most 
part, remained neutral, and issued declarations 
to that effect. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


MATANZAS, CARDENAS, CIENFUEGOS 

Not all the time was spent by Admiral Samp¬ 
son’s fleet in the pursuit of blockade runners 
and the guarding of ports. On the day that 
Admiral Dewey’s ships started for Manila, 
three of the vessels of the blockading squadron 
engaged some Spanish land batteries at Matan- 
zas, on the north coast of Cuba, fifty-two miles 
from Havana. New fortifications were being 
erected there, and the torpedo boat “ Foote” 
had twice been fired on. Admiral Sampson felt 
that it was time he took some action. 

The cruiser “ New York,” the flagship, led 
the way into the bay, followed by the monitor 
Blanco's “ Puritan ” and the cruiser “ Cincin- 
Mnk nati,” which had been doing blockade 
duty at the port. In eighteen minutes the 
American vessels discharged eighty-six shots, 
killing several Spaniards and damaging the 
earthworks considerably. The Spanish forts 
fired about twenty-five shots, but not one of 
the American ships was hit. In spite of the 
116 


Matanzas, Cardenas, Cienfuegos 

fact that the Spaniards had several killed and 
wounded, Captain-General Blanco, in his official 
report of the engagement to Madrid, gravely 
stated that all the damage done by the Ameri¬ 
cans was “ one mule killed.” 

On May n vessels of Admiral Sampson’s 
fleet had brief engagements with Spanish bat¬ 
teries on both the north and the south coasts 
of Cuba. The gunboat “ Wilmington,” the 
converted revenue cutter “ Hudson,” and the 
torpedo boat “ Winslow ” were making a re- 
connoissance of the harbor of Cardenas when 
batteries of which the Americans were ignorant 
opened fire. The torpedo boat’s engines were 
disabled, her executive officer and four of her 
crew killed, and her commander and several 
others badly wounded. At Cienfuegos, at the 
south coast, one seaman was killed and several 
others wounded in a cable-cutting expedition in 
which the cruiser “ Montgomery,” the gunboat 
“ Nashville,” and the auxiliary cruiser “ Win- 
dom ” participated. 

The Cardenas expedition was in charge of 
Commander Todd of the “Wilmington.” He 
Battle of sent the “ Winslow” along the eastern 
Cardenas shore of the bay while the cc Hud¬ 
son” took the western shore in search of small 


History up to Date 

Spanish vessels believed to have taken refuge 
there. Two deserted barks were anchored in 
the bay and the converging courses of the 
“ Winslow ” and ££ Hudson ” brought them 
close together near the barks. These barks it 
was afterward learned had been placed there to 
mark the range. Spanish gunners in a masked 
battery were quick to seize the opportunity. 
A shell struck the “ Winslow ” on the star¬ 
board beam, and exploding in the engine-room 
disabled the starboard boiler and engine. The 
steering gear was carried away a minute later, 
and within five minutes the torpedo boat had 
been hit in twenty places. 

Lieutenant Bernadou, commander of the 
“ Winslow/’ bleeding from a wound in the 
thigh, signalled to the ££ Hudson ” for assist¬ 
ance. With shells striking all around her, the 
little revenue cutter headed for her crippled 
mate. As the cutter neared the torpedo boat. 
Lieutenant Scott, commanding the after six- 
pounder of the “ Hudson,” ordered his men to 
cease firing and had one of them stand by with 
a heaving line for the “ Winslow.” Several of 
the ££ Winslow’s ” crew were clustered about 
the midship gun. 

££ Look out for the line,” shouted Lieuten- 
118 


Matanzas, Cardenas, Cienfuegos 

ant Scott. And, as one of the men on the 
“Winslow” turned to catch the coil, a shell 
cut through the after smokestack and exploded 
where the group stood, killing three men out¬ 
right and wounding several others, two of 
them so badly that they died within half an 
hour. 

Ensign Worth Bagley, the executive officer 
of the “ Winslow,” had his face blown off. 
Death of The windpipe of John Van Veres, an 
Ba g le y oiler, was severed by a fragment of 
shell, and two firemen and the cabin cook 
received fatal wounds. Lieutenant Bernadou 
dragged himself along the deck of the “ Wins¬ 
low,” encouraging his men and giving orders as 
to the handling of the boat. A line was finally 
got aboard the torpedo boat, but as soon as 
the “ Hudson ” started to tow her out, the line 
parted. A second line was made fast, and the 
cutter headed seaward, dragging her damaged 
consort out of the danger circle. 

The “ Marblehead,” “ Nashville,” and 
“ Windom,” early on the morning of May 11, 
Engage- steamed up to the harbor of Cien- 
ment at fuegos. The commanders of the 
Cienfuegos « Marblehead ” and “ Nashville ” 
called for volunteers to man four small boats 


History up to Date 

to cut the cable, and the men responded with 
a jump. The war-ships shelled the shores sur¬ 
rounding the harbor, remaining about one 
thousand yards off shore, and the launches put 
in closer to shore and began grappling for the 
cables. The cables lay deep in the harbor, and 
the launches were some time in finding them. 
One of the relays had just been located and 
cut, when Spanish troops in rifle-pits along the 
shore opened fire on the launches. The ma¬ 
rines in the boats at once replied, a machine 
gun in the forward launch sending out a stream 
of bullets. The war-ships also began shelling 
the shores, and the Spanish riflemen were 
driven from their pits to a lighthouse, which 
had been fortified. 

Spanish bullets were falling all around the 
launches, but the men went bravely on with 
their work. A seaman in one of the boats was 
killed and several others were wounded, but 
the work went on until a second relay of the 
cable had been picked up and cut, when the 
men returned to their ships. 

The fire of the American ships was concen¬ 
trated on a lighthouse garrisoned by Spaniards, 
the C£ Marblehead ” and “ Nashville ” using 
their heaviest guns, as well as their smaller 
120 


Matanzas, Cardenas, Cienfuegos 

rapid-fire guns. A well-directed shot exploded 
in the lighthouse, damaging it greatly and kill¬ 
ing and wounding many of the Spanish soldiers 
who had sought refuge there. This ended the 
battle, and the American ships withdrew, the 
u Marblehead,” “ Nashville,” and “ Windom ” 
all bearing marks of the fray and many of their 
men having slight wounds. 


I 21 


CHAPTER XXIX 


CERVERA AT SANTIAGO 

While the fleet under Admiral Sampson was 
cruising in Cuban waters, occasionally en¬ 
gaging some of the minor fortifications, fre¬ 
quently furnishing escorts for expeditions 
conveying food supplies and munitions of war 
to the insurgents, a fleet of Spanish war-ships 
commanded by Admiral Cervera was sailing 
westward from the Cape Verde Islands. This 
squadron comprised the strength of the Spanish 
navy, — the cruisers “ Infanta Maria Teresa,” 
“ Almirante Oquendo,” “ Vizcaya,” and 
“ Cristobal Colon,” and three torpedo boat 
destroyers, the “ Furor,” “ Terror,” and 
“ Pluton.” 

Leaving the Cape Verde Islands on April 
29, the Spanish fleet arrived at St. Pierre, Mar- 
Arrival at tinique, southeast of Cuba, on May 
Santiago II# Two of the torpedo boat de¬ 
stroyers entered the harbor where the converted 
American liner “ Harvard ” lay, but the authori¬ 
ties would not permit Captain Cotton to cable to 
123 



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Cervera at Santiago 

the Navy Department and the news of Cervera’s 
arrival in western waters reached the govern¬ 
ment through newspaper correspondents. The 
next day the Spanish fleet departed in a north¬ 
erly direction, the destroyer “Terror” being 
left behind at the port of Fort de France, 
Martinique, to watch the “ Harvard ” in port 
on the other side of the island. Both vessels 
prolonged their stay at Martinique on the plea 
of making repairs, but the “Terror” not long 
afterward made for San Juan, Porto Rico, 
where, being unable to join the rest of the 
fleet, she remained until the end of the war. 

Admiral Cervera’s fleet was next reported at 
Willemstad, Cura9ao, having gone there in the 
expectation of meeting colliers which had been 
sent on ahead from Spain. Not finding the 
colliers, the Spanish ships took on some coal 
and provisions at Willemstad and then set sail 
for Santiago de Cuba, the capital and chief 
city of the province of Santiago, the extreme 
eastern division of Cuba, arriving there on 
May 19. 

The flying squadron commanded by Com¬ 
modore Schley had been held at Hampton 
Schley's Roads for fear the Spanish fleet 
Movements m ight attempt to attack one of the 
123 


History up to Date 

North Atlantic ports, but as soon as Cervera’s 
arrival at Martinique was reported, Commodore 
Schley received orders to sail south. Putting 
in at Key West on May 18, he received de¬ 
spatches directing him to place himself under 
command of Acting Rear-Admiral Sampson, 
whom he ranked, against which he filed a 
formal protest. He was directed by Admiral 
Sampson to proceed at once to Cienfuegos on 
the south coast of Cuba, with the “ Brooklyn,” 
the “Massachusetts,” and the “Texas,” Ad¬ 
miral Sampson promising to let the “ Iowa ” 
follow at once. The flying squadron accord¬ 
ingly set sail for Cienfuegos on May 19, the 
day that the Spanish fleet arrived at Santiago. 

The United States authorities in the plans 
of campaign seem to have entirely overlooked 
Santiago at first. Cienfuegos on the south 
coast was expressly mentioned in the blockade 
proclamation, but nothing was said about San¬ 
tiago. The strategy board and the other naval 
authorities, when the Spanish fleet was reported 
at Martinique and again at Cura9ao, took it for 
granted that Cervera would make for either 
Cienfuegos or Havana and acted accordingly. 
The result was that Admiral Cervera’s fleet was 
at Santiago for several days before it became 
124 


Cervera at Santiago 

known in the United States, the first informa- 
tion received being the announcements in the 
newspapers of Madrid. Even this news was 
looked upon as possibly a ruse de guerre. 

Commodore Schley arrived off the harbor of 
Cienfuegos about midnight on May 21. Con¬ 
vinced that the Spanish fleet lay inside the 
harbor, he remained there until May 24, when 
the “ Marblehead ” arrived from Key West with 
the information that the Spanish fleet was prob¬ 
ably at Santiago and with orders for him to 
proceed to Santiago at once. Later in the day 
he received positive information from trust¬ 
worthy Cubans that the Spanish fleet was not 
in Cienfuegos harbor, and the flying squadron 
at once set sail for Santiago, leaving the 
“ Castine ” on guard at Cienfuegos. 

When the flying squadron arrived off San¬ 
tiago on May 26, Commodore Schley found 
Cervera there the “ Minneapolis, 1 ” “ St. Paul/’ 
“ bottled and “ Yale,” which had been doing 
U P ” scout duty in that vicinity. All re¬ 
ported that they had seen nothing of the Spanish 
ships, but strong belief was expressed that the 
fleet was there, although this view was appar¬ 
ently not credited by Commodore Schley. It 
had been the intention of the authorities that 

125 


History up to Date 

he should blockade Santiago, but he had 
already cabled that his short supply of coal 
would not permit him to do this, and on the 
evening of May 26 he ordered his fleet to 
start for Key West. Fortunately the collier 
“ Merrimac ” broke down, and during the 
delay that followed the “ Harvard ” arrived 
with despatches ordering Commodore Schley 
not to leave Santiago and conveying the infor¬ 
mation that Admiral Sampson’s fleet would 
soon arrive there. 

On Sunday, May 29, the squadron, led by 
the “Brooklyn,” made a swinging circle in shore, 
and the “ Cristobal Colon ’’and a cruiser of the 
“ Vizcaya” type were recognized, lying inside 
the harbor beyond Morro Castle. Commodore 
Schley promptly cabled the Navy Department 
that he had the Spanish fleet “ bottled up ” at 
Santiago, adding, “ And they ’ll never get 
home.” 

Not many hours after this, Admiral Samp¬ 
son arrived with some of the more powerful 
ships of the blockading squadron, on which 
was one young man destined to make himself 
famous before many days elapsed. 


126 


CHAPTER XXX 


hobson’s heroic deed 

Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond Pear¬ 
son HobsQn, at four o’clock in the morning 
of June 3, with a crew of seven men, ran the 
collier “ Merrimac ” into the harbor of Santiago, 
swung her across the channel and sank her, 
under heavy Spanish fire. All the eight men 
were taken prisoners and exchanged thirty-three 
days later, just before the fall of Santiago. With 
Hobson were George Charette, Oscar Deignan, 
John Kelly, Daniel Montague, J. E. Murphy, 
John E. Phillips, and Rudolph Clausen. Per¬ 
haps no greater tribute to their bravery exists 
than the message sent by Admiral Cervera, 
commander of the Spanish fleet, to Admiral 
Sampson. After Hobson and his comrades had 
been taken prisoners said Admiral Cervera: 

“ Your boys will be all right in our hands. 
Daring like theirs makes the bitterest enemy 

„ , proud that his fellow-men can be 

Cervera's r c 

Tribute such heroes. They were taken atter- 
127 


History up to Date 

ward to the city of Santiago and thence to San¬ 
tiago’s Morro, where they are our prisoners, 
but our friends. Everything is being done to 
make their stay with us comfortable. If you 
wish to send them anything, we will cheerfully 
take it to them.” 

Santiago’s harbor channel was narrow and 
tortuous. It was impossible for more than 
one large vessel at a time to pass into the 
inner harbor, where the fleet of Admiral Cer- 
vera lay. It was realized that dark and stormy 
nights not only gave an opportunity for the 
Spanish torpedo boat destroyers to attack the 
American battle-ships and cruisers, but also 
made it possible for Admiral Cervera to slip 
away with his larger vessels. To “ bottle up ” 
the Spanish fleet more securely, several plans 
were suggested, but it was the one submitted 
by Hobson that found the most favor. Hob¬ 
son’s plan briefly was to take a vessel into the 
harbor, torpedo her in the channel, and escape 
in a small boat. 

While the “ Merrimac ” was being fitted up, 
Admiral Sampson called for volunteers among 
the enlisted men to accompany Hobson on the 
perilous expedition right under the Spanish 
batteries, from which there seemed to be little 
128 


Hobson’s Heroic Deed 

hope of returning alive. More than two 
hundred men on the flagship “ New York ”and 
about an equal number on the “ Iowa ” volun¬ 
teered. Hobson at first selected six, but 
Clausen, who had volunteered, remained on the 
“ Merrimac ” at Hobson's request. Hobson, 
on the day he gained his freedom, gave this 
account of his experiences : — 

“ It was aboat three o’clock in the morning when the 
4 Merrimac ’ entered the narrow channel and steamed 
Hobson's in under the guns of Morro Castle. The 
own Story stillness of death prevailed. It was so 
dark we could scarcely see the headland. We had 
planned to drop our starboard anchor at a certain 
point to the right of the channel, reverse our engines, 
and then swing the c Merrimac ’ around, sinking her 
directly across the channel. This plan was adhered 
to, but circumstances rendered its execution impos¬ 
sible. When the 1 Merrimac ’ poked her nose into 
the channel our troubles commenced. The deadly 
silence was broken by the swash of a small boat ap¬ 
proaching us from the shore. I made her out to be 
a picket boat. 

M She ran close up under the stern of the ‘ Merrimac ’ 
and fired several shots from what seemed to be three- 
pounder guns. The c Merrimac’s ’ rudder was carried 
away by this fire. That is why the collier was not 
sunk across the channel. We did not discover the 
129 


9 


History up to Date 

loss of the rudder until Murphy had cast anchor. 
We then found that the 4 Merrimac * would not answer 
to the helm and were compelled to make the best of 
the situation. The run up the channel was very 
exciting. The picket boat had given the alarm, and 
in a moment the guns of the 4 Vizcaya,’ the 4 Almi- 
rante Oquendo,’ and the shore batteries were turned 
upon us. 

44 Submarine mines and torpedoes were exploded 
all around us, adding to the excitement. The 
mines did no damage, although we could hear the 
rumbling and feel the ship tremble. We were run¬ 
ning without lights, and only the darkness saved us 
from utter destruction. When the ship was in the 
desired position, and we found that the rudder was 
gone, I called the men on deck. While they were 
launching the catamaran I touched off the explosives. 
At the same time two torpedoes, fired by the 4 Reina 
Mercedes,’ struck the 4 Merrimac’ amidships. I can¬ 
not say whether our own explosives or the Spanish 
torpedoes did the work, but the 4 Merrimac ’ was lifted 
out of the water and almost rent asunder. 

44 As she settled down we scrambled overboard and 
cut away the catamaran. A great cheer went up 
from the forts and the war-ships as the hold of the 
collier foundered, the Spaniards thinking that the 4 Mer¬ 
rimac ’ was an American war-ship. We attempted 
to get out of the harbor in the catamaran, but a strong 
tide was running, and daylight found us still struggling 
130 


Hobson’s Heroic Deed 

in the water. Then for the first time the Spaniards 
saw us, and a boat from the 4 Reina Mercedes * picked 
us up. It was then shortly after five o’clock in the 
morning, and we had been in the water more than an 
hour. We were taken aboard the c Reina Mercedes ’ 
and later were sent to Morro Castle.” 

While Hobson and his men were sinking 
the “ Merrimac” Rear-Admiral Sampson paced 
Powell's thetleck of his flagship, his eyes fixed 
Bravery on t ] ie harbor entrance. The launch 
of the “ New York,” with Cadet Powell in com¬ 
mand, had been sent close in shore to pick up 
Hobson and his men if they succeeded in es¬ 
caping on the catamaran. Powell waited until 
daylight, when the Spanish batteries opened 
fire on the launch. Although he sailed right 
up under the batteries, he could see nothing of 
the catamaran. Giving up all hope of being 
able to rescue Hobson and his men, he re¬ 
turned to the flagship. All he could report 
was that he had seen the tc Merrimac’s ” mast 
sticking up out of the water just where Hobson 
hoped to sink her, north of the Estrella 
battery. 

This led Admiral Sampson and his officers 
to believe that the attempt was successful, but 


History up to Date 

of the fate of Hobson and his men they knew 
nothing until Admiral Cervera’s chief of staff, 
Captain Bustamente y Okedo, came out in a 
launch under a flag of truce and informed them 
that the eight men were all prisoners. 


1 3 2 


CHAPTER XXXI 


FIGHTING AT GUANTANAMO 

When Admiral Cervera’s fleet had been “bot¬ 
tled up ” in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 
plans were at once made by the War Depart¬ 
ment, in Washington, for sending the Fifth 
Army Corps, under General Shafter, to Cuba. 
Wild rumors of a Spanish fleet off the coast of 
Florida delayed the sailing of transports from 
Tampa for several days. Meanwhile eight 
hundred and fifty marines, under the expecta¬ 
tion that Shafter’s troops would quickly arrive 
to support them, established a base in the 
harbor of Guantanamo, twenty miles or more 
to the east of Santiago. 

The landing was made on Thursday, June 9, 
after a brief engagement, in which a regiment 
Landing of of Spanish infantry was driven from 
the Marines position. The marines were dis¬ 
embarked under the protection of the guns 
of the “ Oregon,” “ Marblehead,” and the 
“ Yosemite.” This first landing in force on 
Cuban soil was accomplished in broad daylight. 
i33 


History up to Date 

Early on Thursday morning Admiral Sampson 
ordered the <c Panther,” on which were eight 
hundred and fifty marines from the New York 
Navy Yard, to proceed from off Santiago to 
Guantanamo. Before the cc Panther ” arrived at 
Guantanamo the cc Oregon ” and the cc Marble¬ 
head ” opened fire on the blockhouse and 
cable station at the mouth of the harbor of 
Guantanamo, where the regiment of Spanish 
infantry was quartered. A shower of six-inch 
shells quickly demolished the cable station, 
and the Spanish fled. 

Captain Goodsell, of the marines, who had 
been on the “ Oregon,” with sixty men, landed 
about eleven o’clock in the morning, and selected 
a camp site on Crest Heights, a point over¬ 
looking the harbor. Before Captain Goodsell 
and his men finished their work, the “ Panther,” 
with the rest of the marines on board, arrived, 
escorted by the “ Yosemite.” In whaleboats, 
towed by launches, the entire force of marines 
was quickly put ashore. As the men landed 
they formed under command of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Huntington, and quickly advanced to 
Crest Heights. Within an hour the whole 
force was landed without accident. 

As it was known that a force of several thou- 
i34 



Troops Preparing to Embark. 
By permission of the New York Herald. 













Fighting at Guantanamo 

sand Spaniards was assembled within five miles 
of Crest Heights, the marines at once began 
the work o i fortifying their camp, and by half- 
OId Glory past three o’clock in the afternoon 
hoisted several guns had been mounted, 
ready for action. A little over an hour before, 
Color Sergeant Richard Silvey, of Company C, 
First Battaljon of Marines, raised the stars and 
stripes over the smouldering ruins of the block¬ 
house. 

This camp on Crest Heights, at the mouth 
of the harbor of Guantanamo, was attacked 
by the Spaniards in force on the afternoon 
of Saturday, J une 11. Guerillas and regulars of 
the enemy’s forces fought the marines from the 
shelter of the bushes and undergrowth sur¬ 
rounding Crest Heights, and were only driven 
off after thirteen hours’ almost continuous skir¬ 
mishing, at six o’clock on Sunday morning, 
when reinforcements were landed from the 
cruiser “ Marblehead.” The Americans had 
four killed and one wounded, while the Spanish 
loss was heavier. Among the Americans killed 
was Assistant Surgeon John Blair Gibbs, the 
son of an officer in the regular army, who had 
given up a lucrative practice in New York City 
to serve his country. 

*35 


History up to Date 

The engagement began with desultory firing 
at the pickets a thousand yards from the camp. 
A company under Captain Spicer, which was 
doing guard duty, was driven back to camp. 
Privates Dunphy and McColgan fell in the 
first skirmish, both being shot in the head. 
Their bodies were found in the woods the next 
morning, and the frightful wounds made by the 
Mauser bullets gave rise to the mistaken im¬ 
pression that the bodies had been mutilated by 
the Spaniards. 

The main attack came shortly after midnight. 
The Spaniards made a gallant charge up the 
Marines * southwest slope of the camp, but were 
Bravery me t by repeated volleys from the main 
body of the marines, and broke before they 
were one-third of the way up the hill. So 
close did the opposing forces come that at 
times there was almost hand-to-hand fighting, 
and the American officers used their revolvers. 

The attacks were continued at intervals 
throughout the night with firing from small 
squads in various directions. Toward morn¬ 
ing the Spaniards’ fire slackened. Expecting 
an attack at dawn, the marines were ready, but 
no attack came. Some of them, worn by 
forty-eight hours of labor and fighting, with 
136 


Fighting at Guantanamo 

no rest, fell asleep by their guns. It was the 
first time under fire for many of the marines, 
but their officers had no fault to find with their 
conduct. They fought as bravely and as skil¬ 
fully as veteran troops. 

For several days the marines had little 
chance for rest or sleep. All day Sunday the 
wearied men were kept at work throwing up 
earthworks on all sides of the camp, and 
Sunday evening found them stationed in the 
trenches, ready to repel an attack. Marines 
from the <c Texas” and “ Marblehead ” rein¬ 
forced them, and some Cuban troops were 
landed by American vessels near the camp. It 
was about eight o’clock in the evening that 
the Spaniards again advanced, and from that 
time until three o’clock in the morning there 
was almost continuous skirmishing. Sergeant- 
Major Henry Goode, of the marines, and a 
private were killed, and four other privates 
were wounded. At daylight the Cuban scouts 
reported that the Spanish troops had withdrawn 
some distance. 

There was a lull in hostilities on Monday, 
and the marines not only gained much-needed 
rest, but a force of Cubans, accompanied by 
three battalions of the marines, had established 
i37 


History up to Date 

strong outposts a mile inland from the camp 
on Crest Heights, which had been christened 
“ Camp McCalla.” Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt¬ 
ington on Tuesday morning found his men so 
much refreshed after the first night free from 
fighting, that he decided to advance on the 
Spaniards and drive them from the vicinity of 
Camp McCalla. 

The Spaniards were encamped about four 
miles distant from Camp McCalla, where 
Spaniards there were the only wells in the vicin- 
routed ity ? an j w here there was also a block¬ 
house. As the marines advanced toward this 
camp their skirmish line discovered the Span¬ 
iards in the underbrush only half a mile 
from Camp McCalla. Orders to attack were 
given immediately, and Americans and Cubans 
rushed forward in splendid form, charging the 
enemy with great boldness. 

The action was sharp and spirited. For a 
time the onslaught of the marines was strongly 
resisted, but the enemy was finally forced to 
retreat. The Americans pressed on after the 
fleeing Spaniards and did not give up the 
pursuit until they had put the enemy’s forces 
completely to rout and had made useless their 
water supply. The Spaniards made a final 
138 


Fighting at Guantanamo 

stand in the vicinity of the blockhouse, and 
there forty bodies of Spaniards lay in the field 
when the firing ceased. 

There were two of the Cubans killed and 
four of them wounded, and two of the Ameri¬ 
can marines wounded, but not seriously. At 
least half ajiundred Spaniards had been killed 
in the fighting and many more of them cap¬ 
tured. In addition to these men, Lieutenant 
Francis Batista, with a corporal and eighteen 
privates, were taken prisoners and were placed 
on board the American war-ships in the harbor. 


x 39 


CHAPTER XXXII 


FUNDS FOR HOSTILITIES 

While the land and naval forces of the United 
States were harassing the Spaniards in Cuba, 
Porto Rico, and the Philippines, the authorities 
in Washington were devising means for fur¬ 
nishing the sinews for war, and for vigorous 
war. A measure known as the War Tax Bill, 
after several conferences between committees 
of the upper and lower houses, was finally 
adopted by both the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, and became law on June 13, 
when it received the signature of President 
McKinley. This revenue measure provided 
for raising war funds in two ways,— an amount 
not to exceed $400,000,000 for immediate use, 
to be raised by a popular bond issue, and an 
estimated amount of $200,000,000 a year, to 
be raised by internal taxation. 

A tax of $2 a barrel was imposed on beer 
Tobacco and and similar fermented liquors. Deal- 
Liquor taxed ers j ea f tobacco whose annual 
sales did not exceed 50,000 pounds were re- 

140 


Funds for Hostilities 

quired to pay $6 ; those whose sales did not 
exceed 100,000 pounds, #12, and those whose 
sales exceeded 100,000 pounds, #24. 

A tax of twelve cents a pound was imposed 
on all tobacco and snuff manufactured and sold 
or removed for consumption. On cigars and 
cigarettes taxes had to be paid by manufac¬ 
turers,— $3.60 per thousand on cigars weighing 
more than three pounds per thousand, and $ 1.50 
per thousand on cigarettes weighing not more 
than three pounds per thousand. 

After July 1, 1898, bankers on a capital of 
$25,000 had to pay $50, and $2 additional for 
each additional thousand dollars. Brokers' 
taxes ranged from $10 to $50; pawnbrokers 
were taxed $20; proprietors of theatres, $100, 
and circuses, $100. 

It was provided that revenue stamps of 
varying amounts had to be placed on telegraph 
messages, bonds, debentures, bank checks, 
drafts, certificates of deposit, bills of lading, 
receipts, insurance policies, deeds, notes, leases, 
and nearly all classes of commercial paper. 
Chewing gum and parlor-car seats, sleeping- 
car berths, proprietary medicines and perfumes, 
and scores of other things were included under 
the stamp tax. 


History up to Date 

Taxes on inheritances and legacies exceeding 
Legacies $10,000 in personal property were 
levied on thus levied : — 

On sums between $10,000 and $25,000 in 
benefits to the lineal issue or lineal ancestor, 
brother or sister of the deceased, at the rate of 
seventy-five cents for every $100: to the de¬ 
scendant of a brother or sister, at the rate of 
$1.50 for every $100; to the mother or the 
sister of the father or mother, or a descendant 
of a brother or sister of the father or mother, at 
the rate of $3 for every $100; to the brother 
or sister of the grandfather or grandmother, or 
a descendant of the brother or the sister of the 
grandfather or grandmother, $4 for every $100; 
to those of any other degree of collateral con¬ 
sanguinity or strangers in blood, or a body 
politic or corporate, at the rate of $5 for every 
$100; legacies to husbands or wives were ex¬ 
empted. The rates increased with sums above 
$25,000. 

In addition to these taxes, the Secretary of 
the Treasury was authorized to borrow from 
time to time, at a rate of interest not exceeding 
three per cent, such sums as were necessary to 
meet public expenditures, and to issue certifi¬ 
cates of indebtedness in sums not exceeding 
142 


Funds for Hostilities 

$50, the amount of such certificates outstanding 
at no time to exceed $100,000,000. 

The Secretary of the Treasury was also 
authorized to borrow on the credit of the 
War Bonds United States from time to time, as 
issued the proceeds were required to defray 
expenditure? authorized on account of the 
war, and only on that account, the sum of 
$400,000,000, and to prepare and issue therefor 
coupon or registered bonds of the United 
States in denominations of $20 or some 
multiple of that sum, redeemable in coin at the 
pleasure of the United States, after ten years 
from their date of issue, and payable twenty 
years after such date, and bearing interest pay¬ 
able quarterly in coin at the rate of three per 
cent per annum, the bonds to be first offered 
at par as a popular loan. 

These bonds were subscribed for more than 
three times over, and all of them were awarded 
in small lots, bankers and capitalists generally 
failing in their efforts to obtain them. 


M3 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


THE SEIZURE OF GUAM 

One of the bloodless victories of the United 
States during the war with Spain was the 
seizure of Guam, in the Ladrone Islands, on 
June 21, by Captain Glass, of the cruiser 
“ Charleston.” The object of seizing these 
Spanish possessions in the Pacific was to pro¬ 
vide the United States with a base for coaling, 
and at the same time deprive Spain of some of 
her territory. After the destruction of the 
Spanish fleet in the Philippines by Rear-Admiral 
Dewey and the appointment of Major-General 
Wesley Merritt as military governor of the 
islands, no less than four expeditions of the 
United States troops were despatched to the 
Philippines on transports from the port of 
San Francisco. It was one of these expeditions, 
convoyed by the cruiser “ Charleston,” that 
seized Guam. 

It was on the morning of June 20 that the 
“ Charleston,” with three troop-ships following, 
sighted the island of Guam. The transports 
144 


The Seizure of Guam 

remained off the island, while the “ Charleston ” 
headed up through the channel in the coral 
reef that makes San Luis de Apra the best 
harbor in the middle Pacific. The “ Chari eston” 
sent thirteen shells from her forward three- 
pounder into the fortress of Santa Cruz, 
shortening lier range with each shot. As the 
fortress did not reply, it became evident that 
the defence had been abandoned. 

The “ Charleston ” opened- fire on the fort 
at half-past nine o’clock in the morning. At 
Not notified half-past ten a small boat containing 
ofithe War three Spanish officials put off to the 
<c Charleston.” The officials were the captain 
of the port, Lieutenant Commander Jose 
Garcia y Gutierrez, of the Spanish navy, and 
Dr. Jose Romero, port surgeon. The officials 
came on board entirely ignorant of the fact that 
war had been declared between the United 
States and Spain, and making most profuse 
apologies that the lack of ammunition at Santa 
Cruz made it impossible for them to return the 
<c Charleston’s ” salute. 

Greatly to their surprise, the Spanish officials 
were conducted to Captain Glass’s cabin, where 
they were informed that they were prisoners of 
war. They were ordered to convey to the 

i° 145 


History up to Date 

Governor of the Ladrones, Don Juan Marina, 
a demand that he come upon the cc Charleston.” 
Paroled to deliver this message, the Spanish 
officials were sent ashore. In the afternoon 
Captain Duarte, the governor’s secretary, and 
an interpreter boarded the “ Charleston,” with 
a letter from the governor. Don Juan 
Marina, taken by surprise, was playing for 
delay. His letter stated that under the Spanish 
law it was impossible for him to come aboard a 
foreign man-of-war. 

Captain Glass was in a hurry to proceed to 
the Philippines. The next morning he sent 
Lieutenant Rraunersreuther, Ensign Evans, and 
half a dozen well-armed sailors to Piti, the 
landing of the harbor. Lieutenant Brauners- 
reuther bore a letter from Captain Glass to the 
Governor * of the Ladrones, demanding the 
immediate surrender of the islands without 
conditions. Lieutenant Rraunersreuther was 
instructed to allow only half an hour for the 
consideration of the demand. It was a quarter 
past ten when the Americans stepped ashore at 
the landing stage at Piti. The Spanish officials 
met them at the boat stairs and, with profuse 
politeness, offered to escort them to the house 
of the captain of the port. This courtesy was 
146 


The Seizure of Guam 

refused and the letter from Captain Glass 
delivered. 

Governor Marina expressed some surprise 
at the peremptory character of the demand made 
Half an Hour by the men who had come ashore 
for Surrender un der the stars and stripes, but 
retired to the house of the port captain to 
consider the demand. Twenty-five minutes 
had elapsed when the Spanish governor and 
the three officials who had taken part in the 
conference, the port captain, the port surgeon, 
and Captain Duarte, commanding the Spanish 
infantry on the island, returned to the landing 
with a sealed letter, addressed to Captain Glass. 
Lieutenant Braunersreuther promptly broke 
the seal, opened the letter, and handed it to an 
interpreter to read. It was a surrender in due 
form, without conditions, of everything in the 
way of troops and military supplies on the 
island of Guam. The governor only stipu¬ 
lated, to save himself at Madrid, that he 
yielded to superior force and in total igno¬ 
rance, so far as information from his own 
government was concerned, that a state of war 
existed. 

After his surrender the governor was in¬ 
formed that he must have his garrison, with 
i47 


History up to Date 

all its arms and munitions of war, at Piti at 
four o’clock that afternoon, and must accom¬ 
pany Lieutenant Braunersreuther back to the 
“ Charleston.” He made some demur, but a 
messenger was sent to Agana to tell the troops 
to march down to the port, where they were 
disarmed and placed on board the transport 
“ Sydney.” The officials were first taken on 
board the “ Charleston ” and later transferred 
to the cc Sydney.” The guns, ammunition, and 
flags seized were kept on the “ Charleston,” and 
the next day the expedition went on its way to 
the Philippines. 

On the afternoon of June 21, the stars and 
stripes were raised over Fort Santa Cruz, and 
as the “ Charleston ” fired a salute of twenty- 
one guns Captain Glass formally declared the 
island to be in the possession of the United 
States. 


148 


CHAPTER XXXIV 

AGUINALDo’s VICTORIES 

Hardly had Admiral Dewey destroyed the 
Spanish fleet at Cavite, in the Philippines, 
before there arrived there “ General ” Agui- 
naldo, a leader of the Filipinos in a previous 
rising against the Spanish authorities. When 
General Primo de Rivera, General Augustin’s 
predecessor as Captain-General of the Philip¬ 
pines, had purchased peace, Aguinaldo and the 
other insurgent leaders had gone to Hong 
Kong. Returning now to Cavite, Aguinaldo 
soon gathered around him a strong and ever- 
increasing force of armed and unarmed natives, 
some of the native troops in the Spanish army 
deserting to his cause. Soon after his arrival 
he issued three proclamations. 

The first of these proclamations stated that 
he had surrendered his arms and handed over 
Aguinaldo's a strong army to the Spaniards, be- 
Intentions lieving it would be more beneficial 
to the country than carrying on the insurrec¬ 
tion with poor resources. None of the 
149 


History up to Date 

promised reforms had been fulfilled in five 
months, and the Spaniards seemed impotent in 
the hands of the friars, who constantly placed 
obstacles in the way of progress. As the great 
and powerful United States had come forward 
to offer disinterested protection, that the 
natives might gain liberty for their country, he 
had returned to command the army, and pro¬ 
posed to establish a dictatorship, with an 
advisory council, until the islands were com¬ 
pletely dominated. An assembly, constitu¬ 
tional and republican, would then be formed, 
and when a President and Cabinet had been 
elected Aguinaldo would hand over the com¬ 
mand of the army. 

In his second proclamation Aguinaldo for¬ 
bade all attempts at negotiations between the 
rebels and Spaniards for peace, in view of the 
failure of previous negotiations, both civil and 
military. He announced that Spaniards com¬ 
ing to parley without a flag of truce and proper 
credentials would be shot as spies. Any Fili¬ 
pino undertaking such a commission would be 
considered a traitor and would be condemned 
to be hanged with the placard attached to his 
body bearing the words, “ Traitor to his 
country.” 

1 S° 


Aguinaldo’s Victories 

The third proclamation, to which was largely 
Orders to due the friendly relations at first 
Filipinos maintained between the American 
forces and the insurgents, read: — 

u Filipinos : 

“ The great North American nation, a lover of 
true liberty, and therefore desirous of liberating our 
country from the tyranny and despotism to which it 
has been subjected by its rulers, has shown us decided 
disinterested protection, considering us sufficiently 
able and civilized to govern this unhappy shore. 

“ In order to retain this high opinion of the never 
too highly praised and great nation of North America, 
we should abominate such acts as pillage and robbery 
of every description and acts of violence against 
persons and property. To avoid international com¬ 
plications during the campaign I order : — 

u First, lives and property of all foreigners are to 
be respected, including Chinese and those Spanish 
who neither directly nor indirectly have taken up 
arms against us. 

“ Secondly, the lives and property of our enemies 
who lay down their arms are to be equally respected. 

“ Thirdly, in the same way all hospitals and all am¬ 
bulances, together with the persons and effects therein, 
as well as their staffs, are to be respected unless they 
show themselves hostile. 

u Fourthly, those who disobey what is set forth in 

151 


History up to Date 

the three former articles will be tried by summary 
court-martial and shot, if by such disobedience there have 
been caused assassination, fires, robbery, or violence.” 

Admiral Dewey, being without land forces 
to follow up his victory over the Spanish 
Insurgent navy, by force contented himself 
Victories with guarding the bay of Manila, 
while he waited the arrival of General Merritt 
and his troops from the United States. Agui- 
naldo, expecting the Americans to support his 
claims, within two weeks after his arrival had 
assembled a force of three thousand armed 
men and had fought many skirmishes. He 
had captured two good batteries and was in 
possession of the entire province of Cavite. 
Sixteen hundred Spaniards had been taken 
prisoners and several hundred killed or 
wounded. Two thousand rifles purchased 
abroad had been supplied to the rebels, and 
they had taken two thousand magazine rifles 
and six field-guns from the Spaniards. 

With Admiral Dewey controlling the bay and 
Aguinaldo the territory surrounding Manila, 
the residents of the Philippine capital, cut off 
from supplies, awaited the inevitable capitula¬ 
tion that must follow the arrival of the strong 
armies being hurried from San Francisco. 

* 5 2 



Major-General Merritt 












\ 
























* 

























CHAPTER XXXV 


BOMBARDMENTS OF SANTIAGO 

Commodore Schley, while oft Santiago await¬ 
ing the arrival of Admiral Sampson’s fleet, sent 
a few shells into the Spanish batteries at the 
mouth of the harbor, but it was not until 
Monday, June 6, after Admiral Sampson’s 
arrival, that the harbor fortifications were bom¬ 
barded in earnest. On that day, after an 
engagement lasting nearly three hours, Admiral 
Sampson cabled to the Navy Department in 
Washington that he had silenced the forts at 
Santiago without injury of any kind. 

While it was true that Admiral Sampson 
did considerable damage to the Spanish bat¬ 
teries, it was later discovered that the men at 
the enemy’s guns had retired when the Ameri¬ 
can fire became too hot, and that the batteries 
were capable of doing considerable damage 
still. The Spanish loss was seven killed and 
about forty wounded. The Americans had 
only one man slightly wounded. The bat¬ 
teries of the Spaniards engaged were those of 
*53 


History up to Date 

Morro Castle, Estrella, Caro, and Punta Gorda. 
The guns in some of these batteries were 
manned by men from the fleet of Admiral 
Cervera, which was bottled up in Santiago 
harbor. 

The American ships about six o’clock in the 
morning slowly moved to within three thou- 
Formation sand yards of the shore. The first 
of the Fleet li nej composed of the “ Brooklyn,” 
C£ Texas,” “Massachusetts,” and “ Marble¬ 
head,” turned westward. Commodore Schley’s 
flagship, the cruiser “ Brooklyn,” was in the 
lead. In the second line was Admiral Samp¬ 
son’s flagship, the “ New York,” with the bat¬ 
tle-ships “Oregon” and “ Iowa,” and the 
cruisers “ New Orleans ” and “ Yankee.” Led 
by the flagship, the second line moved east¬ 
ward. Far out on the left were the “ Vixen ” 
and the <c Suwanee,” whose crews watched the 
riflemen on shore. The “ Dolphin ” and the 
c< Porter ” formed the right guard. Apparently 
the movement of the ships had not been 
noticed until they were close up to the bat¬ 
teries, and a heavy shot from the “Iowa” 
struck one of the batteries, with serious effect. 

Admiral Sampson’s column directed its at¬ 
tention to some new earthworks near Morro 
*54 


Bombardments of Santiago 

Castle, while Commodore Schley’s ships shelled 
the Estrella and Catalena batteries. Both 
columns poured a fusillade of heavy missiles 
into the fortifications on either side of the 
harbor, firing in all about fifteen hundred shots. 
The Spanish fire at first was spirited, but the 
aim of the gunners was poor, and it was inef¬ 
fective. Admiral Sampson had issued orders 
that no shots should be fired at Morro, fearing 
to injure Hobson, but several shells did strike 
the castle. 

As the bombardment proceeded, the ships in 
Commodore Schley’s column moved nearer to 
Batteries the shore in order to bring speedier 
silenced destruction to the shore batteries. 
This action resulted in the “ Texas,” “ Massa¬ 
chusetts,” and “ Brooklyn ” dealing such awful 
broadsides that the earthworks were torn up 
and the Spanish gunners took to their heels for 
a less exposed place. The main interest in 
Schley’s column was centred on the Estrella 
fortification. This fort offered great resistance, 
but when the “ Texas ’’and the “ Marblehead ” 
trained their guns upon it at close range the 
woodwork of the fortification was set on fire 
and the guns were silenced. 

In the eastward column, where Admiral 
i55 


History up to Date 

Sampson was watching the attack, the Ameri¬ 
can gunners were doing their duty in the same 
glorious manner. Cayo battery was silenced 
by the “ New York ” and the <c New Orleans.” 
The guns in this battery were dismounted and 
the defence was wrecked. At the close of the 
second hour of the engagement the vessels of 
the American fleet turned so they could use the 
port batteries. Part of the time the firing was 
not accurate because of the location of several 
of the fortified points on shore. Shell after 
shell was thrown into the Spanish fortifications 
until ten o’clock. There were no longer any 
replies from the enemy’s batteries, and Admiral 
Sampson signalled for the ships to stop the 
bombardment. 

The dynamite gun vessel “ Vesuvius ” soon 
joined Admiral Sampson’s command, and on 
Work of the two different nights made attempts 
“ Vesuvius ” to destroy the Spanish torpedo boat 
destroyers, which were supposed to be lying 
in an angle of the harbor near El Morro. 
Steaming quietly up close to the shore, the 
“Vesuvius ” had let fly several 250-pound shells 
of gun-cotton. There was only a peculiar 
rasping cough as these missiles, discharged by 
compressed air, left the guns. But an instant 

15 6 


Bombardments of Santiago 

later, as the shells dropped back of the low 
hills into the bay, there were heard most ter¬ 
rific explosions. What damage was done by 
the shells that fell behind the hills the Amer¬ 
icans had no means of knowing, but one charge 
that exploded on Cayo Smith tore an immense 
hole in the rocks. 

It was after the second of the “ Vesuvius ” 
attacks, on the morning of Thursday, June 16, 
The Third ^ at Admiral Sampson bombarded 
Bombard- the outer fortifications of Santiago 
ment f or a third time. At a five-knot 

speed the ships steamed to a 3,000 yard range, 
where they closed up, broadside on, until a dis¬ 
tance of three cable-lengths separated them. 
They were strung out in the form of a crescent, 
the heavy fighting ships in the centre, the flag¬ 
ship “ New York ” on the right flank, and 
the battle-ship “ Massachusetts ” on the left 
flank. The line remained stationary through¬ 
out the bombardment. The “ Vixen ” and 
“ Scorpion” took up positions on opposite 
flanks, close in shore, for the purpose of enfi¬ 
lading any infantry that might fire on the ships. 
When the ships got into position it was still 
too dark for firing. The admiral signalled 
the ships not to fire until the muzzles of the 
i57 


History up to Date 

enemy’s guns in the embrasures could be seen 
by the gun captains. 

They kept the line quietly for fifteen min¬ 
utes until a little after five o'clock, when the 
<c New York ” opened with a broadside from 
her main battery at the works on the east of 
the entrance to the harbor. All the ships fol¬ 
lowed in red streaks of flame. The fleet, 
enveloped in smoke, pelted the hills and 
kicked up dirt and masonry. Though the 
gun captains had been cautioned not to waste 
ammunition, and to fire with caution, the firing 
was so rapid as to make almost a continuous 
report. The measured crash of the thirteen- 
inch guns of the battle-ships sounded above 
the rattle of the smaller guns of the secondary 
batteries, like thunder-claps in a hurricane. A 
strong land breeze off shore carried the smoke 
of the ships seaward, while it let down a thick 
curtain over the Spanish gunners. The Span¬ 
ish gunners at first replied with spirit, but their 
fire was not a match for the skilled gunnery 
of the Americans. 

Admiral Sampson's ordnance expert had 
given explicit directions to reduce the charges 
and elevate the guns, so as to shorten the 
trajectory and thus give a plunging fire, as the 
158 


Bombardments of Santiago 

shells in previous bombardments had fre¬ 
quently fallen far over the fortifications. The 
effect of the reduced charges was marvellous. 
In fifteen minutes one western battery was 
completely wrecked. The “Massachusetts” 
tore a gaping hole in the emplacement with 
one of her heavy shells. The “ Texas ” 
dropped a shell into the powder magazine, and 
the explosion following wrought terrific havoc. 

The batteries on the east of Morro were 
harder to get at, but the “ New Orleans,” ap¬ 
proaching to within five hundred yards of the 
shore, played a tattoo on the batteries with her 
eight-inch guns, one shot striking a Spanish 
gun on the muzzle and knocking it off its 
trunnions'. Several times during the bom¬ 
bardment Admiral Sampson signalled the 
ships to temporarily cease firing to allow the 
smoke to clear away. When the order came 
at half-past six to cease firing, not a Spanish 
gun had been heard from for ten minutes. 


i59 


CHAPTER XXXVI 


THE SHAFTER EXPEDITION 

While the fleet under Rear-Admiral Sampson 
was shelling the outer fortifications of Santiago, 
and while the marines under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Huntington were so bravely defend¬ 
ing their camp at Guantanamo, they daily 
expected the arrival of an army to attack the 
city of Santiago by land. 

The Fifth Army Corps, under Major-Gen¬ 
eral William R. Shafter, had been mobilized 
Sailed on at Tampa. There was some delay 
June 14 i n assembling a sufficient number of 
transports to carry so large a force, but on 
Wednesday, June 8, all the troops had em¬ 
barked. The expedition was about to start 
when orders came from Washington to hold 
the transports, a false rumor of the presence 
of some Spanish ships along the north coast of 
Cuba being responsible for the delay. Day 
after day the troops waited and suffered on the 
transports; but it was not until Tuesday, June 
14, that the start was finally made. 

160 


The Shafter Expedition 

A strong convoy of war-ships sent by Admi¬ 
ral Sampson escorted the unarmed transports 
to Santiago. The convoy included the battle¬ 
ship “ Indiana,” the “ Helena,” the “ Castine,” 
the “ Detroit,” the “ Bancroft,” the “ Man¬ 
ning,” the cc Oceolot,” the “ Wampatuck,” the 
“ Hornet,” and the torpedo boats “ Ericsson ” 
and “ Porter.” There were in all thirty trans¬ 
ports. 

The trip to Santiago was made almost with¬ 
out incident, save such slight mishaps as the 
loss of a water barge which one of the vessels 
had in tow. Each day at eight bells the fleet 
hove to, and the “ Olivette,” which was used as 
a hospital ship, ran alongside each of the trans¬ 
ports to take off any of the troops that might 
be ill. Several cases of typhoid fever and 
measles developed during the journey. 

In the expedition commanded by General 
Shafter there were 773 officers and 14,564 
Strength of enlisted men. The infantry force 
the Expedition consisted of the First, Second 
Third, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, 
Twelfth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, 
Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, and 
Twenty-fourth United States Regulars; the 
Seventy-first New York Volunteers, and the 
11 161 


History up to Date 

Second Massachusetts Volunteers, the total 
infantry force amounting to 561 officers and 
10,709 enlisted men. 

The cavalry complement included two dis¬ 
mounted squadrons of four troops each, from 
the First, Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth 
United States Regular Cavalry, and two dis¬ 
mounted troops from the First United States 
Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel 
Leonard Wood, with Lieutenant-Colonel 
Theodore Roosevelt second in command. 
This was the organization known as the 
“ Roosevelt Rough Riders,” which was made 
up of ranchmen from the West and college 
athletes and sportsmen from the East. It in¬ 
cluded many sons of prominent families of 
New York, among others, Hamilton Fish, 
William Tiffany, and Craig Wadsworth. The 
dismounted cavalry force numbered in all 158 
officers and 2,875 enlisted men. There was 
also one squadron of the Second United States 
Cavalry, which took its horses with it. In 
this squadron there were nine officers and 280 
enlisted men. The mountainous nature of the 
country around Santiago and the lack of trans¬ 
ports were the causes of so many of the cavalry¬ 
men being sent to Cuba without their horses. 

162 


The Shafter Expedition 

General Shaffer’s artillery force consisted of 
Light Batteries E and K, of the First United 
States Artillery; Light Batteries A and F, of 
the Second United States Artillery, — in all 14 
officers an 4 323 enlisted men ; Batteries G and 
H, of the Fourth Artillery, which were siege 
batteries, 4 officers and 132 enlisted men. 
There were also two companies of engineers 
and fifteen staff officers, besides about fifty 
newspaper correspondents and representatives 
of the armies and navies of Europe. 

It was on Monday, June 20, that the trans¬ 
ports arrived off Santiago de Cuba. Admiral 
Arrival at Sampson was promptly advised of the 
Santiago approach of the Shafter expedition by 
the “ Rodgers ” and the “ Ericsson,” and at 
once sent Captain Chadwick, of the flagship 
“ New York,” to receive General Shafter. 
Captain Chadwick steamed up to the trans¬ 
ports on the “ Gloucester ” and acquainted 
General Shafter with the location of several 
points which the fleet had selected as available 
for disembarking the troops. Captain Chad¬ 
wick advised General Shafter that the transports 
be kept out of sight of land until the point at 
which the troops were to go ashore had been 
finally selected. General Shafter accepted the 
163 


History up to Date 

suggestion and the troop-ships remained twenty 
miles out at sea. 

Almost at the same time with the arrival of 
General Shafter’s troops General Calixto Garcia, 
Conference a Cuban veteran, appeared at Acer- 
whb Garda raderos, about fifteen miles west of 
Santiago. He had with him a force of 4,000 
Cubans and thirteen field-guns. Arrange¬ 
ments were at once made for a conference 
between General Garcia, General Shafter, and 
Acting Rear-Admiral Sampson. 

Soon after the fleet of transports had stopped 
twenty miles off Santiago, transport No. 12, 
with General Shafter aboard, approached the 
flagship. Admiral Sampson went aboard, and 
fifteen minutes later the transport headed west 
and quickly steamed to Acerraderos, twenty 
miles away, where a Cuban flag on the hill 
indicated General Garcia’s camp. With only the 
“ Marblehead ” lying off shore to protect them, 
without military escort of any kind. General 
Shafter and his staff and Admiral Sampson 
and Lieutenant Staunton landed in a small 
boat within twelve miles of twelve thousand 
Spanish soldiers. A ragged escort of Cubans 
conducted the Americans up a rock road a 
mile inland to Garcia’s camp. 

164 


The Shafter Expedition 

In a palm-roofed hut, seated on boxes, the 
two generals and the admiral discussed plans 
A Remark - f° r t ^ ie ca p ture °f Santiago. Five 
able War negro sentries, naked to the waist, 
Picture * stood outside, and around was a 
motley gathering in which ragged but well- 
armed Cuban officers rubbed shoulders with 
the Americans. 

It was one of the remarkable pictures of the 
war. Colonel John Jacob Astor stood side by 
side with a half-naked negro. General Lud¬ 
low, of the engineers; Captain Stewart Brice, 
a son of the former United States Senator; 
Captain Lee, a British army officer, and others 
of the Americans conversed with Cubans in 
friendly familiarity. Colonel Goetzen, the 
German attache, in spotless white linen, and a 
barefooted Cuban officer tried conversation 
about the war in the sign language. Within 
the tent the heads of the three leaders were 
bent over blue print maps. Garcia, the most 
familiar with the country around Santiago, out¬ 
lined a plan which was approved by General 
Shafter, but not by Admiral Sampson. After 
some discussion it was decided that Shafter 
should disembark his troops and push them 
forward toward the city at once. 

l6 5 


History up to Date 

While the transports were sailing from 
Tampa to Santiago the marines at Guantanamo 
had not been idle. The “ Marblehead ” 
and <c Dolphin ” had cleared the harbor of 
mines and the cable station at Plaza del Este 
had been repaired, establishing communication 
with the Mole St. Nicholas. Officials of 
the War and Navy Departments in Washing¬ 
ton were informed of the landing of Shafter’s 
army near Baiquiri, a few miles from Santiago, 
by the receipt of despatches from the newly 
opened cable station at Playa del Este on the 
evening of June 22. 


166 


CHAPTER XXXVII 


BATTLE OF LAS GUASIMAS 

Six thousand American soldiers had disem¬ 
barked from General Shafter’s transports at 
the Sigua Iron Company's dock at Baiquiri 
by the evening of Wednesday, June 22. Ten 
thousand more were ready to follow them 
ashore the next day. Several thousand Cubans 
were encamped in the hills surrounding. 
General Shafter remained aboard the trans¬ 
port “ Seguranca ” directing the disembarka¬ 
tion. General Joseph Wheeler, in charge of 
the cavalry division, was directing the move¬ 
ments of the troops ashore. The Spaniards 
had as yet made no resistance. 

Admiral Sampson on Wednesday morning 
had made a feint of bombarding the batteries 
rpj ?e of Juragua to draw off the attention 

Landing at of the Spaniards from the landing. 
Baiquiri The “ New Orleans" and some of 
the other vessels of the fleet shelled the hills 
around Baiquiri to rout any Spanish troops 
that might be in ambush there, and the land- 
167 


History up to Date 

ing began. Soon the sea was alive with flotillas 
of small boats, headed by launches, speeding 
for the dock at Baiquiri. Each of the small 
boats carried sixteen men, every one in fight¬ 
ing trim, and carrying three days’ rations, a 
shelter tent, a gun, and two hundred cartridges. 
The Eighth Regular Infantry was the first regi¬ 
ment to land. It was followed by the First, 
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-second, Fifteenth, Seven¬ 
teenth, and Twelfth Regulars, the Second Massa¬ 
chusetts Volunteers, and a part of the cavalry. 

A strong detachment under Brigadier-Gen¬ 
eral Lawton was thrown out about four miles 
to the westward, toward Santiago. Another 
detachment was posted to the north of the 
town, and the rest of the troops that had 
landed were quartered in the iron company’s 
buildings, and the deserted dwellings of Bai¬ 
quiri. General Lawton rested Wednesday 
night at Comajayaho, four miles west of Bai¬ 
quiri, resuming his march at daybreak. Before 
noon his brigade, consisting of the Twenty- 
second Infantry, the First Infantry, the Second 
Massachusetts, with several companies from 
the Eighth, Fourth, and Twenty-fifth Cavalry, 
had occupied Juragua and had hoisted the 
American flag there. 


168 



Landing Place at Baiquiri. 
By permission of the New York Herald . 















■ 














» 











Battle of Las Guasimas 

The Spaniards had fallen back as Lawton 
advanced, and the Americans had burned sev¬ 
eral unoccupied blockhouses. Before General 
Linares’ troops left Juragua, they had made 
efforts to destroy the locomotives and rolling 
stock of the railroad there. A detachment 
of Cubans under Colonel Aguirra had had a 
brush with the Spanish rear-guard, having had 
two men killed and seven wounded. General 
Chaffee, with the Fourth, Seventh, Twelfth, 
and Seventeenth Infantry, and companies of 
the Fourth, Eighth, and Ninth Cavalry, reached 
Juragua at dusk on Thursday. General Young, 
with part of the regular cavalry, and the First 
Volunteer Cavalry, under Colonel Wood, the 
“ Rough Riders,” was also hurrying forward 
to support General Lawton. 

The first skirmish took place on Friday 
morning near Las Guasimas, when the Span- 
Skirmish iards attacked the troops advancing 
at Las to support General Lawton, and were 
Guasimas re p U l sec i after an hour’s fighting. 
The Americans had been advancing in two 
divisions. General Young directing the move¬ 
ment of the regulars, and Colonel Wood the 
“Roosevelt Rough Riders,” so called because 
the lieutenant-colonel was Theodore Roosevelt, 
169 


History up to Date 

who had resigned as Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy to organize a regiment of college men 
and cowboys. 

In the skirmish Captain Capron, Lieutenant 
Hamilton Fish, and several privates among the 
“ Rough Riders” were killed. Six privates of 
the First Regular Cavalry and one of the Tenth 
were also left dead on the held. No less than 
fifty Americans were wounded, among them 
six officers. Major Brodie, of the “ Rough 
Riders,” was shot through the right arm; 
Captain McClintock, of the “ Rough Riders,” 
fell with a bullet through his leg, and Lieuten¬ 
ant Thomas was also crippled by a small wound. 
Of the regulars, the officers wounded by Span¬ 
ish bullets were Major Bell, Captain Knox, and 
Lieutenant Bryan. 

General Lawton had established his head¬ 
quarters for Thursday night slightly beyond 
the village of Altares. General Wheeler had 
camped two miles or more in the rear. To 
the front were the Cuban outposts. Not a 
single Spaniard could be seen, although hun¬ 
dreds of field-glasses had scrutinized the 
thickets on all sides. Early on Friday morn¬ 
ing the First Volunteer Cavalry, the “ Rough 
Riders/' commanded by Colonel Wood, began 

170 


Battle of Las Guasimas 

their advance towards Santiago. It was seven 
o’clock when they entered the village of 
Altares. After a short halt, they began a long 
climb up the steep, narrow trail, which affords 
the only passage to the Grand Mesa, which 
shuts the city of Santiago from the sea. Laden 
with full marching equipment, they toiled 
slowly up the rocky path in single file. The 
Tenth Cavalry had landed and was climbing 
up to the village of Altares. The Seventy- 
first New York Volunteers had just come off a 
transport, and were lining up to commence the 
same ascent. 

As the “ Rough Riders” advanced, there 
was still no sign of the enemy. Men began 
« H 0U gk to fall out of the ranks and drop 
Riders" exhausted from the intense heat. 
attacked The ]j ne t heir advance was marked 
with blankets and other articles. Suddenly, 
over a hillside, two or three miles across a valley, 
which paralleled the trail, a puff of smoke arose, 
and then another and another. The crack of 
Mausers was heard. The “ Rough Riders” 
knew that Castillo’s Cubans were engaging the 
Spaniards, and as the firing became heavier, 
that General Lawton’s men were taking a 
hand. While the “ Rough Riders ” were 


History up to Date 

watching this fight from a distance, there came 
a flash from the thicket scarcely two hundred 
yards ahead, and a score of Mauser bullets 
went shrieking over the heads of the volunteer 
cavalrymen, now for the first time under fire. 

“It’s up to us, boys,” cried Lieutenant- 
Colonel Roosevelt, who was near the head 
of the column. The trail along which the 
“ Rough Riders ” were advancing was so 
narrow they could move only in single file. 
“ Deploy; lie down,” commanded Colonel 
Wood. Troop L, which was in the advance, 
scattered, sending a volley in the direction 
whence the Spanish bullets came. Their fire 
did not, however, check the Spaniards, who 
advanced bravely, but firing so rapidly that 
their aim was generally too high. 

One or two of the “ Rough Riders ” showed 
signs of panic, but the cool demeanor of Colo- 
Spaniards nel Wood and Lieutenant-Colonel 
driven back Roosevelt encouraged them, and they 
settled down to work. Troop G reinforced 
Troop L, but still the enemy pressed forward. 
Colonel Wood’s men yielded ground slowly, 
and the sound of the firing told those in the 
rear a battle was on, and a general rush for the 
front began. Reinforcements found Troops 
172 


Battle of Las Guasimas 

L and G fighting in an awkward position, with 
a wire trocha on one side and a ravine on the 
other. The enemy was temporarily checked, 
but presently outflanked the “ Rough Riders,” 
who were forced to fall back, fighting fiercely 
as they retired. 

Colonel Wood despatched an orderly for 
reinforcements, who met the Tenth Cavalry 
and the Twenty-second Infantry. Both of 
these regiments hurried forward. Men who 
had been lying on the ground exhausted by the 
heat grasped rifles and rushed to the fray. 
With these reinforcements the Spanish were 
quickly put to flight and were hotly pursued 
by the Americans for a mile and a half, a force 
of two thousand of the enemy being routed 
by one thousand of the Americans. 


i73 


CHAPTER XXXVIII 


THE ADVANCE ON SANTIAGO 

Saturday evening, June 25, found the Ameri¬ 
can troops all safely disembarked with practi¬ 
cally no accidents, and pushing on toward 
Santiago. General Shafter himself was at Si- 
boney, and an emergency corps was sent on 
ahead of him to build a military road. The 
men were complaining bitterly of the cloth¬ 
ing provided by the government, which was 
entirely unsuited to the climate. So hastily 
had the expedition been fitted out that most 
of the men still had the heavy uniforms they 
wore in the North. The advance was marked 
by a trail of clothing and blankets cast aside. 
Two thousand Cubans had been landed at 
Baiquiri and had joined General Shafter s 
forces. General Linares, commanding the 
Spanish troops, had been driven back beyond 
the village of Sevilla. 

Shafter, on hearing of the engagements of 
Friday, had hurried forward to Siboney, where 
he had a conference with General Garcia, corn- 
174 


The Advance on Santiago 

manding the Cubans. They perfected plans 
for a junction of four thousand Cubans with 
Plans of ‘General Wheeler’s troops, with a 
Attack view to making an immediate attack 
on the city. 

It was believed at this time in Washington 
that General Pando was nearing Santiago with 
reinforcements from Havana, and the Wash¬ 
ington authorities, on receipt of the news of 
battling, began to make hasty preparations for 
sending reinforcements to General Shafter, and 
some troops did sail from Newport News on 
the C£ Harvard.” As a matter of fact, although 
the Spaniards in the city were reinforced, it 
was not by General Pando, as he had been 
sent to Mexico and Central America to stir 
up sympathy and collect money for Spain, but 
by General Escario. 

For several days there was no pitched battle, 
but only occasional skirmishes between the out¬ 
posts. The Americans were busily engaged in 
moving forward artillery and in moving troops 
to the north and west to invest Santiago. On 
the morning of Friday, July i. General Shafter’s 
troops began a vigorous attack on the outer 
defences of Santiago. The Americans ad¬ 
vanced on the city from three directions. 
i75 


History up to Date 

While General Lawton and General Kent 
were attacking Caney, to the northeast of the 
Battle of city °f Santiago, General Bates was 
July i advancing on Aguadores, to the 
southeast of the city. General Garcia, with 
his Cuban troops, at the same time approached 
Caney from the southeast. Other divisions of 
the Americans pressed on toward Santiago 
from the east, attacking the Spaniards in the 
village of San Juan. The fighting line of the 
Americans thus practically presented a solid 
front from the coast to General Linares’ 
northern defences. Both the American and 
Spanish fleets joined in the battle. Some of 
Admiral Sampson’s ships shelled the batteries 
of Aguadores as the men under General Bates 
attacked from the land side. The cruisers of 
Admiral Cervera, lying in the harbor, shelled 
the American lines. 

The first to fall in this battle were four men 
of the Twenty-first Regiment of regulars as 
they advanced from Sevilla to Caney. Sixteen 
other members of the regiment were wounded. 
Two companies of the Roosevelt Rough Riders 
and the Third, Sixth, and Twenty-first Infantry 
had attacked the northeastern defences far 
ahead of the general advance. Two batteries 
17 6 


The Advance on Santiago 

of light artillery pushed forward to the north¬ 
east of Santiago and began the fighting there 
by attacking the Spaniards at Caney, from 
which there was a road running directly to San¬ 
tiago, and hence a valuable strategic position. 

General Joseph Wheeler, with part of the 
cavalry, unmounted, and General Garcia, with 
Capture of the Cubans, pushed forward to join 
Caney in the attack on Caney. The Span¬ 
ish fought desperately to prevent Caney from 
falling into the hands of the Americans, but it 
was a vain effort. Before the fighting had 
been long under way the Americans and 
Cubans had gained advanced ground, and then 
foot by foot the Spaniards were driven back 
into the village and finally routed there. 

There was desperate fighting about Agua- 
dores, upon which General Kent’s troops 
advanced. Acting under orders from General 
Linares, the Spaniards made a most desperate 
resistance, but the Americans kept gaining 
ground and held what they had gained. 

When the fighting of the day ended, General 
H. W. Lawton was at Caney with three 
brigades. The First, under Colonel Van Horn 
commanding the Eighth and Twenty-second 
Infantry, and the Second Massachusetts; the 
12 177 


History up to Date 

Second Brigade, composed of the First, Fourth, 
and Twenty-fifth Infantry ; the Third Brigade, 
under General Chaffee, composed of the 
Twelfth, Seventh, and Seventeenth Infantry. 
General Joseph Wheeler, with four light bat¬ 
teries, was in the rear of General Lawton’s 
command, with General Young. Here, too, 
was a cavalry force, unmounted, made up of 
troops from the First, Third, Sixth, Ninth, and 
Tenth regiments. 

Moving toward Aguadores from Sevilla 
was the First Brigade, under General Hawkins, 
with the Sixteenth and Sixth Infantry, the 
Seventy-first New York ; the Second Brigade, 
Colonel Pierson commanding, consisting of 
the Second, Tenth, and Twenty-first Infantry; 
and the Third Brigade, Colonel Worth com¬ 
manding, made up of the Ninth, Thirteenth, 
and Twenty-fourth Infantry. General Bates 
had the Thirty-third and a part of the Thirty- 
fourth Michigan Volunteers. 

General Shaffer, when evening came, reported 
to President McKinley that after fighting all 
day his lines were within three-fourths of a mile 
of the city. 

In this battle General Linares, the com¬ 
mander of the Spanish troops at Santiago, was 
178 


The Advance on Santiago 

so badly wounded that he had to relinquish 
his command to General Toral. General Vara 
Linares del Rey was killed. General Linares 
wounded had thrown himself into the forefront 
of battle from the minute that the American 
forces had effected a landing in Cuba. He 
was at the head of his men in several skir¬ 
mishes that took place while the Americans 
were forcing their way foot by foot from Jura- 
gua to Sevilla. He had his headquarters in 
Sevilla when General Shaffer’s troops made 
an assault against that place, and he was one 
of the last to retire when the Spaniards were 
driven back toward Santiago. 

From the moment of the American attack 
on the outer defences of Santiago on the morn¬ 
ing of July i. General Linares was much in 
evidence. He went to the front to take per¬ 
sonal command. Mounted on a spirited horse, 
he rode up and down the lines before his 
troops, directing their defence of the city’s 
intrenchments and freely exposing himself to 
the American fire. While he was thus inspir¬ 
ing his men to bravery by his own actions, he 
was struck by a bullet and fell from his horse. 
He was instantly surrounded by members of his 
staff and carried to a place of safety in the city. 

179 


CHAPTER XXXIX 


CANEY AND SAN JUAN HILL 

The combined assault of the various divisions 
of General Shafter’s army upon Santiago on 
Plans of Friday, July i,was carefully planned 
Sbafter ou t at a meeting of the generals in the 
tent of General Shafter on the evening before. 
The fierce fights that followed, ending in the 
taking of Caney and San Juan, were the natural 
outcome. It was decided at this meeting that 
the light battery commanded by Captain Capron, 
the father of the young captain of “ Rough 
Riders ” who fell at Las Guasimas, should early 
in the morning begin the attack on Caney. 
General Lawton’s troops were to support him 
there, and after Caney had been taken to move 
along the Caney road toward Santiago. 

General Wheeler’s mounted cavalry and the 
infantry under General Kent were directed to 
take a position in the Santiago road, the head 
of the column resting near the heights of El 
Pozo, where Captain Grimes’ battery was 
posted to prepare for the advance of General 
180 


Caney and San Juan Hill 

Wheeler and General Kent on San Juan Hill. 
The attack at this point was to be delayed 
until General Lawton's guns at Caney showed 
that the Spaniards were well engaged at that 
point. The position of the Spaniards was a 
strong one. The troops were located in block¬ 
houses, a stone fort, and a strongly built stone 
church, and in well-protected trenches in the 
vicinity of these buildings. 

Captain Capron opened the attack with his 
battery shortly before seven o'clock, and sharp 
fighting continued from that time on until late 
in the afternoon, when the place was taken. 
The Twenty-second Infantry advanced toward 
Caney from a position about two miles south, 
over rough ground, and here and there a wire 
fence. The officers expected to find only 
about five hundred men in the village. All 
the way they were under fire from Spanish 
sharpshooters, — a fire that it was impossible 
to return on account of the impossibility of 
locating it. The greater part of it came from 
guerillas concealed in treetops. Under this 
fire many of the officers and men fell. 

Nine o’clock in the morning found the 
Twenty-second within about five hundred yards 
of the village. The Americans could plainly 
181 


History up to Date 

see the large stone blockhouse, with the Span¬ 
ish flag flying on it, and several other fortified 
Fought on buildings. From these fortifications 
Short came a deadly fire, unobstructed ex- 
Rations ce pt by a f ew bushes. The men were 
exhausted from their march in the Cuban sun, 
made on short rations, for there had been great 
difficulty in getting the stores forward in suffi¬ 
cient quantity for the troops in the advance. 
Nevertheless they fought bravely. Most of the 
morning was spent in manoeuvring for a better 
position. Noon found the Twenty-second well 
located and sending hot shot into the Spanish 
lines. The Americans had only one hundred 
rounds for each man, and their officers, well out 
on the firing lines, watching the Spanish lines 
with field-glasses, saw to it that none of the shots 
was wasted. There was a long red building in 
which four hundred of the Spaniards were in¬ 
trenched. A wounded prisoner stated after the 
battle that when the fighting ended there were 
only two men in the building who had escaped 
being struck by the American bullets. 

While the Twenty-second was thus engaged. 
Captain Capron’s battery was pounding the 
blockhouse, and two regiments under General 
Bates and the rest of the troops under General 
182 


Caney and San Juan Hill 

Lawton Were attacking the Spaniards from 
other quarters. The Spaniards about half-past 
four gave up the fight and retreated to Santiago, 
fighting as they retreated. The Americans, 
yelling, “On to Santiago!” entered the village 
and pressed on hard after the Spaniards until 
evening. A large number of the Spaniards 
were killed and many more wounded in this 
fight, and several hundred of them were taken 
prisoners. Six of the American officers were 
killed and wounded, and the ranks of the men 
were decimated. 

The attack on San Juan Hill was not to take 
place until the Spanish troops at Caney were 
Fight at well engaged. In this respect the 
San Juan plans miscarried a little. So vigorous 
was the firing at Caney that Grimes* 
battery, posted on the heights of El Pozo, and 
the troops supporting it believed the Ameri¬ 
cans were driving the Spaniards before them. 
Grimes* battery accordingly opened on the 
blockhouse on San Juan Hill with a very effect¬ 
ive fire, and Spanish troops were seen running 
away from the blockhouse. The artillery 
posted at San Juan vigorously replied to the 
American fire. The Spaniards, using smokeless 
powder, had greatly the advantage, as great 
183 


History up to Date 

clouds of black smoke clearly marked the 
American position. 

The cavalry division under General Sumner, 
which had been lying concealed near El Pozo, 
was ordered forward to cross the San Juan 
River, hardly more than a brook, and deploy 
to the right, to the Santiago side of San Juan, 
while the troops under General Kent deployed 
to the left of the Spanish position. 

General Wheeler had been ill, but rising 
from a sick bed he moved the dismounted 
cavalry across the San Juan River and threw 
them to the right, with a view to uniting them 
with the troops under General Lawton. Gen¬ 
eral Kent’s men, moving along the left branch 
of the road and crossing the stream, formed for 
the attack on San Juan Hill. 

As the Second Brigade was forming for the 
attack, its gallant commander, Colonel Wikoff, 
Losses of of the Twenty-second United States 
Officers Infantry, was killed. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Worth succeeded to the command of 
the brigade, only to retire soon, seriously 
wounded. The command then devolved on 
Lieutenant-Colonel Liscum, of the Twenty- 
fourth Infantry. Five minutes later he fell 
under the Spanish fire, and Lieutenant-Colonel 
184 



Grime ? s Battery in Action. 

By permission of the New York Herald . 














































































































Caney and San Juan Hill 

Ewers, of the Ninth Infantry, was left in 
command. 

General Kent meanwhile was hurrying for¬ 
ward the rear brigade of his command. The 
Tenth and Second Infantry were ordered to 
follow Colonel Wikoffi’s brigade, while the 
Twenty-first was sent on the right-hand divi¬ 
sion of the road to support the First Brigade 
under General Hawkins, who had crossed the 
stream and formed in the right of the division. 
The Second and Tenth Infantry, under Colo¬ 
nel Pierson, formed in good order to the left 
of the division, and passing over a green knoll, 
drove the Spaniards back to their trenches. 
Of the attack that followed when the troops 
had been thus disposed, Major-General Shaf- 
ter said : — 

u In this fierce encounter words fail to do justice 
to the gallant regimental commanders and their heroic 
men, for while the generals indicated the formations 
and the points of attack, it was, after all, the intrepid 
bravery of the subordinate officers and men that 
planted our colors on the crest of San Juan Hill and 
drove the enemy from the trenches and blockhouse, 
thus gaining the position which sealed the fate of 
Santiago.” 


CHAPTER XL 


RESULTS OF THE BATTLE 

The fighting done by the Americans at Caney 
and San Juan Hill on July i won them 
great praise for bravery. On short rations, 
fighting in heavy uniforms, in intense heat, 
opposing a foe well intrenched, they won sig¬ 
nal victories, though at terrible loss. The 
total losses in the fighting at Santiago, the 
great majority of which were on the first day’s 
fighting, were : twenty-two officers and two 
hundred and eight privates killed; eighty-one 
officers and one thousand two hundred and 
three privates wounded; seventy-nine privates 
missing, most of whom were located later. 

Among the officers who were killed in this 
battle was Colonel Charles A. Wikoff, of the 
Officers Twenty-second United States Infan- 
Killed try, for whom Camp Wikoff, at 
Montauk, L. I., was named shortly afterward. 
Lieutenant-Colonel John M. Hamilton, of the 
Ninth United States Cavalry ; Major Forse, of 
the First Cavalry ; Captain W. P. Morrison, 
186 


Results of the Battle 

of the Sixteenth United States Infantry; Cap¬ 
tain William O’Neill, of the First Volunteer 
Cavalry, the “ Rough Riders,” and Lieutenants 
Michie, Ord, Smith, Augustin, and Shipp. 

In the list of the wounded were included the 
following officers,—Brigadier-General Hawkins, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Worth, of the Thirteenth 
United States Infantry ; Lieutenant-Colonel 
Liscum, Twenty-fourth United States In¬ 
fantry : Lieutenant-Colonel Carroll, command¬ 
ing First Brigade, Cavalry Division; Major 
Ellis, Thirteenth United States Infantry ; Ma¬ 
jor Henry W. Wessells, Third United States 
Cavalry; Captain Blocksome, Captain Kerr, 
and Lieutenant Short, of the Sixth United 
States Cavalry ; Captain Hunter, Captain Dodd, 
Lieutenant Meyer, and Lieutenant Hayes, 
Third United States Cavalry; Captain Taylor 
and Lieutenant Wood, Ninth United States 
Cavalry; Lieutenant McCoy, Tenth United 
States Cavalry ; Lieutenant Mills, First United 
States Cavalry; and Captain Rodman, First 
United States Infantry. 

In this fight members of several of the vol¬ 
unteer infantry regiments distinguished them- 
Volunteers’ selves. The Thirty-third and the 
Bravery Thirty-fourth Michigan regiments 
187 




History up to Date 

and the Seventy-first New York were in the 
thick of the fight. The Seventy-first formed 
the centre of an attacking column in which 
were the Sixth and Sixteenth Regulars. They 
were subjected to a galling artillery fire from 
both right and left. After the attacking column 
had driven the enemy from point to point, they 
suddenly found themselves caught in a triangle. 
Hemmed in by the enemy, they had to face a 
terrific infantry fire. They were mowed down 
by the hundreds, the Spanish by the use of 
smokeless powder being able to continue their 
destructive work most effectively. 

At one time matters took a desperate turn 
for the Americans. They had long withstood 
the fire of the hidden infantry and pluckily 
retained their self-possession while their com¬ 
rades were falling on every side. Inspired by 
their leaders, they hammered away at the under¬ 
brush in which the enemy seemed to be lurk¬ 
ing until late in the afternoon. Just as the 
fighting was becoming critical, they were rein¬ 
forced by the troops under General Lawton 
and General Chaffee. All the Americans then 
threw themselves forward, charging the enemy 
with such fury that they swept all before them. 
The Spaniards fled from their defences, and 


Results of the Battle 

San Juan Hill was soon in the possession of the 
Americans. 

The infantry regiments that suffered the 
heaviest losses in this day’s fighting were the 
Thirteenth and Twenty-fourth Regulars. It 
was a detachment of seventy-five men from 
the latter regiment, under Captain Ducat and 
Lieutenant Lyon, that captured the block¬ 
house on San Juan Hill in the final charge. 
Of the seventy-five men who started up the 
hill in the face of a destructive Spanish fire, 
fifty-three were killed, and of the survivors 
several were severely wounded. 

The blockhouse stood at the top of a hill 
facing the pathway leading up to it and into the 
Heroic town. It was placed there purposely 

Charges to g uard the approach to the city, 

and to advance meant that the American 
soldiers must pass it, garrisoned as it was with 
sixty well-armed soldiers. Captain Ducat’s 
company, firing as they ran, rushed up the hill 
in a storm of bullets. Neither Captain Ducat 
nor Lieutenant Lyon reached the blockhouse, 
both falling wounded on the slope ; but their 
fall did not stop the onward rush of their men 
by a moment. The Spanish, dismayed by the 
daring of the Americans, retreated from the 
189 



History up to Date 

blockhouse, leaving it to Captain Ducat’s 
men, and thus opening up the way for the 
carrying of the position by assault. 

Similar bravery was displayed by nineteen 
members of the Ninth Infantry in taking a 
blockhouse at El Caney on the same after¬ 
noon. Ordered to the roof of the block¬ 
house, which because of its heavy timbers their 
bullets had been unable to penetrate, four of 
the men dropped down inside the blockhouse, 
where were thirty-five desperate Spaniards. 
The four paid for their daring with the instant 
loss of their lives, and, infuriated at the sight, 
the fifteen survivors plunged all at once among 
the Spaniards and engaged in a furious fight 
for twenty minutes, which resulted in those 
Spaniards who could hastily retreating. 

The night of July i found the Americans 
holding both San Juan and Caney and well 
Shafter advanced toward the trenches of 

disheart- Santiago at other points. During 
that night and all the next day the 
Spaniards made sorties in attempts to recap¬ 
ture the positions they had lost, but about 
July 3 the fighting was suspended. This 
practically ended the battle of Santiago, for, 
though there was some skirmishing later. 


Results of the Battle 

what followed may more properly be termed 
a siege. 

General Shafter was, however, much dis¬ 
heartened. He was ill and suffering greatly 
from the intense heat. He had learned that 
the garrison of Santiago had been reinforced 
by 5000 troops which had evaded a force of 
Cubans under General Garcia, especially de¬ 
tailed to prevent their entrance. Appalled by 
the heavy losses in his own army, he decided 
that his position was untenable and contem¬ 
plated ordering a retreat, and so intimated in 
his despatches to the War Department in 
Washington. 

Instant preparations were made there to 
send him reinforcements, and Major-General 
Miles, who had been striving in vain to get 
permission from Secretary of War Alger to go 
to the front, was now directed to proceed to 
Santiago. The division and brigade command¬ 
ers under General Shafter took by no means 
the gloomy view of the situation that he did, 
and they counselled so strongly against retreat 
that General Shafter delayed his contemplated 
order. He had been complaining to the 
Washington authorities that the co-operation 
of the fleet was not as great as it should be; 


History up to Date 

and he and Admiral Sampson received orders 
to confer with a view to a better understanding. 
While Admiral Sampson was on his way to 
confer with General Shafter, an unexpected 
move on the part of the Spaniards entirely 
changed the outlook. 


192 


CHAPTER XLI 


cervera’ s fleet destroyed 

The Spanish fleet # under Admiral Cervera, 
consisting of the cruisers “ Cristobal Colon,’* 
“ Infanta Maria Teresa,” “ Vizcaya,” and “ Al- 
mirante Oquendo,” and the torpedo boat de¬ 
stroyers c< Pluton ” and <c Furor” were destroyed 
by the American fleet under Admiral Sampson at 
Santiago de Cuba on Sunday morning, July 3. 

This fatal dash from the harbor of Santiago 
was not the wish of Admiral Cervera. It was 
Cervera a made by the order of General Blanco 
Prisoner a t Havana, who had been urged to 
take this step by the authorities in Madrid, 
who considered some show of resistance neces¬ 
sary to convince the turbulent Spanish popu¬ 
lace that Spanish honor was being satisfied. 
It was in vain that Admiral Cervera protested 
that to emerge from the harbor when a supe¬ 
rior squadron lay in wait for him meant certain 
defeat. 

On the morning of July 3 the Spanish fleet 
steamed boldly out of the harbor, with the 
*3 193 



History up to Date 

cc Infanta Maria Teresa ” in the lead. In less 
than half an hour two of Cervera’s ships were 
wrecks, a few minutes later a third ran up a 
white flag, the two destroyers were sinking 
hulks, and the “ Cristobal Colon ” was being 
hotly pursued along the coast, where, some 
miles from the harbor mouth, she was grounded 
to prevent her sinking. In the engagement 
the Americans lost only one man, while prac¬ 
tically all the Spanish officers and most of 
their crews were either killed or taken prison¬ 
ers. One of the captains committed suicide. 
Admiral Cervera was taken prisoner. Admiral 
Villamil, in command of the torpedo boat de¬ 
stroyers, lost his life. 

Admiral Sampson missed the engagement, 
having shortly before the Spaniards emerged 
moved down the coast toward Aguadores, and 
being unable after the firing was heard to reach 
the scene in time to participate, beyond firing 
a couple of small shots. The command of 
the fleet during the action thus fell to Com¬ 
modore Schley, on the cruiser “ Brooklyn.” It 
was to him, even though the fleet was under 
the command of Admiral Sampson, that the 
popular mind gave the greatest credit for the 
victory. 


194 


Cervera’s Fleet Destroyed 

In the quiet of the Sunday morning the 
American men-of-war lay off the harbor en¬ 
trance of Santiago at distances ranging from 
four thousand to six thousand yards. It was 
about half-past nine o’clock, and Lieutenant 
Duzer, the officer of the watch on the battle¬ 
ship “ Iowa,” was relieving the navigating offi¬ 
cer, Lieutenant Schuetze, officer of the deck, 
when he heard a quick cry to call the captain, 
followed by the shout: “ There come the 
Spaniards out of the harbor! ” 

The trained eye of the alert officer marked 
the thin trail of drifting smoke, and before the 
signal <c Clear ships for action ! ” had been 
given, the bows of the Spanish cruisers, rushing 
in <c line ahead ” were seen darting around 
Socapa Point for the open sea. 

Men rushed to quarters, guns were trained, 
and in less than thirty seconds the whistling 
shriek of a rapid-fire gun warned the startled 
fleet of the hot work awaiting it. In two min¬ 
utes every gun on the “ Iowa” was cast loose, 
manned, loaded, and ready for the long-expected 
signal to fire. At the yard arm of the“ Iowa” 
a string of signal flags warned the fleet that the 
enemy was trying to escape; but even before 
the answering pennants of the other ships 
!95 


History up to Date 

announced that the message was understood, 
every vessel was dashing to the stations long 
before allotted to them for the emergency that 
had come at last. 

Almost simultaneously with the “Iowa ” the 
commodore’s flagship, the “ Brooklyn,” had 
The Battle sighted the Spanish fleet. “ Cer- 
quickly vera ’s trying to escape ! ” was the 
begun cf y t | iat arose on the « Brooklyn” and 
was re-echoed through the fleet. As the 
“ Brooklyn ” set her signals, every American 
vessel began a rush inshore, the men taking 
their places by the guns, the engines crowding 
on all steam, one and all aboard the war-ships 
making ready for the great battle. 

Just as the “ Infanta Maria Teresa” was 
poking her nose out into the open sea, 
Commodore Schley started the “ Brooklyn ” 
rushing to head her off. The battle-ships 
“ Massachusetts ” and “ Oregon ” followed the 
“Brooklyn,” while the battle-ships “ Indiana,” 
“ Iowa,” and “ Texas,” with the little “ Glou¬ 
cester,” the converted yacht “ Corsair,” for¬ 
merly owned by Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, of 
New York, were left to look after the other 
vessels of the Spanish fleet. 

The Spaniards, with bottled steam, cleared 
196 


Cervera’s Fleet Destroyed 

the harbors mouth seemingly in a moment. 
Their course was shaped for the westward, but, 
fast as they sped in their desperate break for 
freedom, faster flew the shells of the pursuing 
Americans. Not one whit behind in this awful 
fusillade roared the batteries of the Spaniards. 
Their port broadsides flamed and grumbled. 
In fifteen minutes after they were discovered 
the four Spanish armored cruisers had cleared 
the entrance, and five minutes later the torpedo 
boat destroyers were in the turmoil of the 
action. The air trembled and blazed with the 
most terrific battle of modern naval history. 

In an instant, it seemed, one of the cruisers 
burst into flames, caused by a long sure shot 
either from the “ Oregon ” or “Texas.” A 
minute later a twelve-inch projectile sent from 
the “Iowa’s” forward turret struck the “Infanta 
Maria Teresa” near her after smokepipe. A 
tremendous explosion followed, and the cruiser 
was first shrouded in blinding smoke and then 
lighted by lurid flames. When the powder 
cloud from the explosion blew down, she was 
seen, helm hard a-port, rushing for the beach. 

As the American war-ships rushed on toward 
their prey, shell after shell struck the hulls of 
the Spaniards’ armored cruisers, just as if it were 
197 


History up to Date 

target practice on a summer morning, and not 
the annihilation of the naval strength of Spain. 
In twenty-five minutes two of the Spanish 
cruisers were wrecked, and in three-quarters of 
an hour the third surrendered. Only the 
“ Cristobal Colon ” was still seeking to escape. 

Meanwhile the “ Furor ” and “ Pluton,” the 
much-vaunted torpedo boat destroyers, had 
jfr a ; n _ dashed out in the wake of the cruisers. 
wright's The “ Indiana” and the “ Iowa ” let 
Revenge fly at them as they hurried on after 
the larger vessels. A twelve-inch shell struck 
one of the destroyers. The little “Hist” en¬ 
gaged them, and then the “ Gloucester” joined 
in the fray. The “ Gloucester’s ” commander 
was Lieutenant-Commander Richard Wain- 
wright, who had been executive officer of the 
“ Maine” when she was blown up in Havana 
harbor. 

Eagerly had Wainwright waited for an 
opportunity to avenge the destruction of the 
“ Maine,” and well he made use of it. The 
awful storm of rapid-fire projectiles from the 
“Gloucester” soon vanquished the “Furor” 
and “ Pluton,” and they ran for the shore to drift 
as riddled wrecks upon the rocks. And not only 
thus did the gallant Wainwright avenge the 
198 





* 


The Oquendo after the Battle. 
By permission of the New York Ilerahi . 































\ 














Cervera’s Fleet Destroyed 

“ Maine,” but at every one of the Spanish fleet 
before engaging the destroyers the “ Glou¬ 
cester ” sent hot shot. 

The “ Iowa,” hurrying in to join the “ Ore¬ 
gon ” and “Brooklyn” in the chase for the 
Surrender “ Cristobal Colon,” came up with the 
of the once proud cruiser “ Vizcaya.” As 
“Vizcaya ^ «j owa ” approached, the “Viz¬ 
caya,” with a quick turn to starboard, ran shore¬ 
ward, and it was seen that she was aflame fore 
and aft. As the “Iowa” was about to give 
her a finishing broadside, a white flag went up 
on the “Vizcaya,” and amid the cheers of the 
Americans the boats of the “ Iowa” and “ Hist” 
were lowered to save the Spanish crew. 

The “ Iowa’s ” boats picked up about two 
hundred and fifty of the “Vizcaya’s ” crew, and 
the “ Hist’s ” a hundred more. Some of the 
crew swam to the beach, but, finding the shores 
patrolled by alert parties of Cuban soldiers, 
hastened to plunge into the waves again, pre¬ 
ferring to trust themselves to the American 
seamen, rather than to the merciless Cubans. 
On board the “Iowa” the Spaniards were 
courteously treated, and the paymaster’s stores 
were liberally drawn upon to supply them with 
dry clothing as well as food. 

199 


History up to Date 

The commander of the “ Vizcaya ” was the 
courteous Captain Eulate, who only a few 
weeks before had been received in New York 
as a guest of honor. As he was lifted over the 
side of the “ Iowa ” and half carried aft, he pre¬ 
sented his sword to the “ Iowa’s ” commander, 
Captain Robley D. Evans. Captain Evans 
declined to receive the sword of the man he 
had beaten in battle, and, waving it back 
with a friendly gesture, grasped the hand of 
Captain Eulate, and welcomed him to the 
hospitality of the ship. 


3QO 



CHAPTER XLII 


THE CHASE OF THE <c COLON ” 

Perhaps the most dramatic incident of the 
naval battle at Santiago on July 3, was the 
chase of the “ Cristobal Colon,” that ended in 
her being beached, a helpless wreck, on the 
shore, about fifty miles from Santiago. In 
this pursuit, the American war-ship that dis¬ 
tinguished herself most was the battle-ship 
“ Oregon,” commanded by Captain Clark. 
The “ Oregon ” had already distinguished her¬ 
self by the run she had made from San Fran¬ 
cisco to Key West. The perilous voyage 
around South America had been made in 
record-breaking time, and the battle-ship had 
reached Key West without being in need of 
the slightest repairs. 

Upon emerging from the harbor of Santiago 
the “ Cristobal Colon,” reserving her fire, had 
forged ahead at her maximum speed to the 
westward. The “ Brooklyn,” at the beginning 
of the battle, engaged the cc Colon,” and received 
a few shots in reply, but the “ Colon ” darted 
201 



History up to Date 

onward, reserving her heaviest lire until later, 
when the “ Vizcaya ” and “ Colon ” fiercely 
engaged in a running light with the “ Brook¬ 
lyn,” “Texas,” “Iowa,” and “Oregon,” which 
resulted in the “ Vizcaya ” being run aground 
at Asseraderos. After her consort had been 
vanquished, the “ Cristobal Colon ” dashed on 
to the westward, running close in shore, evi¬ 
dently with the object of finding a good place to 
beach if she should fail to elude her pursuers. 

The “ Oregon ” led the chase, while the 
“Brooklyn” and “Texas,” and later the flag- 
Chase of ship “ New York,” which, as soon as 
Fifty Miles the battle began, hastened to rejoin 
the fleet, pushed on after the “ Oregon.” The 
pursuit continued with increasing speed, and 
soon the “ Brooklyn ” and “ Oregon ” were 
again within long range of the “ Colon.” The 
“ Oregon ” opened lire with her thirteen-inch 
guns, landing a shell near the “ Colon.” The 
“ Brooklyn ” followed with her eight-inch guns. 
As battle-ship and cruiser gained better range, 
the “ Colon ” became the better target, and her 
commander gave up all hope of escape. 

Seeing destruction awaiting his ship if he 
continued the fight, the captain of the “Colon” 
struck the flag at a quarter past one o’clock, — 
202 




The Chase of the “ Colon ” 

about four hours after the battle began, — and 
then beached her at a point about fifty miles 
west of Santiago harbor. Captain Cook, of the 
“ Brooklyn,” then went aboard the “ Colon ” 
and received her surrender. 

As a result of this battle of Santiago the 
Spanish admiral was captured and more than 
Spanish thirteen hundred of his men taken 
Losses prisoners, many among them severely 
wounded. Admiral Cervera estimated that at 
least six hundred were killed. The American 
loss was one man killed and one man wounded. 
The man killed was G. H. Ellis, chief yeoman 
of the “ Brooklyn.” 1 

1 Three days after the destruction of Admiral Cervera ? s fleet, 
President McKinley issued this thanksgiving proclamation : 

** At this time, when to the yet fresh remembrance of the un¬ 
precedented success which attended the operations of the United 
States fleet in the Bay of Manila on the first day of May last, 
are added the tidings of no less glorious achievements of the 
naval and military arms of our beloved country at Santiago de 
Cuba, it is fitting that we should pause, and, staying the feeling 
of exultation that too naturally attends great deeds wrought by 
our countrymen in our country’s cause, should reverently bow 
before the throne of divine grace and give devout praise to God, 
who holdeth the nations in the hollow of His hands, and work- 
eth on them the marvels of his high will and who has thus far 
vouchsafed to us the light of his face and led our brave soldiers 
and seamen to victory. 

<< I therefore ask the people of the United States, upon the 
203 


History up to Date 

Admiral Cervera, clad only in his under¬ 
clothes, was rescued from his flagship. Ad¬ 
miral Villamil, commanding the torpedo boat 
flotilla, was killed during the action. The 
captain of the “ Almirante Oquendo,” Don 
Juan Lasaga, shot himself when he saw his 
ship was doomed. Captain Eulate and another 
commander were wounded. 

next assembling for divine worship in their respective places of 
meeting, to offer thanksgiving to Almighty God, who in his 
inscrutable ways, now leading our boats upon the water to un¬ 
scathed triumph, now guiding them in a strange land through 
the dread shadows of death to success, even though at a fearful 
cost, now bearing them without accident or loss to far-distant 
climes, has watched over us and brought nearer the success of 
the right and the attainment of just and honorable peace. 

“ With the nation’s thanks let there be mingled the nation’s 
prayers that our gallant sons may be shielded from harm alike 
on the battlefield and in the clash of fleets, and be spared the 
scourge of suffering and disease while they are striving to up¬ 
hold their country’s honor, and withal let the nation’s heart be 
stilled with holy awe at the thought of the noble men who have 
perished as heroes die, and be filled with compassionate sym¬ 
pathy for all those who suffer bereavement or endure sickness, 
wounds, or bonds by reason of the awful struggle. 

“ And, above all, let us pray with earnest fervor that He, the 
dispenser of all good, may speedily remove from us the untold 
afflictions of war and bring to our dear land the blessings of re¬ 
stored peace, and to all the domain now ravaged by the cruel 
strife the priceless boon of security and tranquillity. 

“ William McKinley. 

“ Executive Mansion, Washington, July 6,1898.” 

204 


The Chase of the u Colon ” 


“We have lost all save honor,” said Admi¬ 
ral Cervera, in a report he was permitted to 
send to General Blanco the day after the battle. 
In this report he spoke highly of the bravery 
his men had manifested. Despite Admiral 
Cervera’s tribute to the courage of his men, it 
was stated as a fact that many of the Spaniards 
had practically to be driven to quarters before 
the battle, and that while the fight was on the 
captains res'orted to the expedient of opening 
up their cases of wine and brandy to keep up 
the courage of the men by stimulants. As the 
vessels neared their destruction, in several in¬ 
stances there were riotous scenes, the crew 
seizing the ships’ liquors and gold and seeking 
to carry it away. 

Despairing as was Admiral Cervera’s report, 
it did not prevent Captain-General Blanco, 
with the usual Spanish optimism, that frequently 
distorted facts for home consumption, from 
issuing an address to the people of Cuba in 
which he said : — 

“ Courage is not always accompanied by fortune. 
The fleet commanded by Admiral Cervera has just 
accomplished an act of heroism which was perhaps 
the greatest ever recorded in the history of the navies 
in the present century. Fighting against an American 
205 


History up to Date 

force three times its superior, it gloriously succumbed 
at the very moment when we considered it safe from 
the danger which was threatening it at Santiago de 
Cuba. The blow is rude, but it would be unbecom¬ 
ing for Spanish hearts to be dismayed by this mis¬ 
fortune, no matter how grave it appears. We must 
show to the world that our hearts are not overcome 
by adverse events, and that we have courage to view 
adversity serenely and to struggle against it until we 
conquer.” 

Spanish prisoners taken at the naval battle 
of Santiago were for the most part taken to 
Spanish Portsmouth, N. H., where they were 
Prisoners camped with a guard of marines. 
Quarters for the captured officers were found 
at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, although 
the officers frequently went elsewhere on parole. 
Until they were sent home, after the signing 
of the peace protocol, they were treated with 
kindness and courtesy, in a spirit best il¬ 
lustrated, perhaps, by the words of Captain 
Philip, of the battle-ship “Texas,” to his crew, 
as they began to cheer when they saw the 
Spanish cruisers wrecked : — 

“ Don’t cheer, boys; the poor devils are 
dying.” 


206 



CHAPTER XLIII 


SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO 

Santiago was surrendered by General Toral 
to the American troops under Major-General 
William R. Shafter, at noon on Sunday, July 
17, 1898, according to an agreement drawn up 
and signed the day before. 

The first demand for the surrender of the 
city had been made on the morning of July 3, 
Demands a ^ ter two days of hard fighting, dur- 
for Surren - ing which the Americans had cap- 
** er tured the outer defences of the city 

at San Juan and El Caney. General Toral, 
who commanded the Spanish troops after 
General Linares was wounded, had refused the 
demand. Foreign consuls in Santiago then 
demanded that the American fleet and army 
delay the bombardment of the city threatened 
until foreign residents of Santiago had been 
removed to places of safety, in and beyond the 
American lines. A truce was allowed for this, 
which continued until July 9, when General 
207 


History up to Date 

Shatter renewed his demand for surrender, 
again threatening to bombard. 

General Torahs reply was that he was not 
authorized to capitulate, but would have to 
communicate with Captain-General Blanco at 
Havana. While he was doing this, General 
Shatter asked the Washington authorities 
whether any other proposition would be ac¬ 
cepted other than unconditional surrender. 
He was informed that no other proposition 
could be listened to, but that in such an event 
the surrendered Spanish troops would be per¬ 
mitted to return to Spain. 

General Toral’s reply, again, was that he 
could not surrender, and on July n the army 
and fleet opened fire on the city again. Some 
little damage was done by the heavy shots of 
the war-ships. The Spaniards, however, kept 
well within the trenches, and the only casualties 
were three Americans wounded. On Tuesday, 
July 12, the feeble replies to the American fire 
led General Shafter to suspect that the Spanish 
were trying to leave the city, and he renewed 
his demand for General Torahs surrender, only 
to have it once more denied. 

While the Americans had the city well in¬ 
vested, there were certain features that made 
208 


Surrender of Santiago 

too long a delay in the capture of the city 
dangerous for them. The much-dreaded yel- 
Tellow low fever had appeared in General 
Fever Shafter* s army. Fugitives of foreign 

Outbreak birth, who had fled from Santiago 
practically without food, were looking to the 
Americans to supply them ; while the fact was 
that the soldiers, owing to the incapacity or the 
unusual demands on the Commissary Depart¬ 
ment, did not always have enough to eat 
themselves. 

Officials of the administration, alarmed at 
the outbreak of yellow fever, kept urging 
Shafter to force immediate action. General 
Miles, who had arrived at Guantanamo, also 
urged the same thing. As a result of General 
Miles* urging, a meeting was held between the 
lines, at which General Toral met General 
Shafter and General Wheeler, and discussed 
the question of capitulation. Washington 
authorities were highly gratified the next day 
at receiving a despatch from General Shafter 
which said: — 

“ Have just returned from interview with General 
Toral. He agrees to surrender on the basis of being 
returned to Spain. This proposition embraces all of 
eastern Cuba, from Asseraderos on the south to Sagua 
14 209 


History up to Date 

on the north, via Palma, with practically the Fourth 
Army Corps. Commissioners meet this afternoon at 
half-past two to definitely arrange the terms.” 

It soon became evident that General Shafter 
had been a little too hasty, for when the com¬ 
missioners met, the Spaniards insisted that they 
be allowed to retain their arms, and this re¬ 
sulted in the final surrender of the city being 
delayed until Sunday, July 17. Meanwhile 
General Miles, under the belief that the sur¬ 
render was made, had started for Porto Rico. 

“Unconditional surrender” had been the 
first demand made by General Shafter upon 
Terms of the Spanish commander at Santiago. 
Surrender Capitulation, with permission to with¬ 
draw from the city with the officers and men 
carrying their arms, had been the first proposi¬ 
tion of General Toral. Each side yielded a 
little. Commissions were finally appointed to 
draw up articles for the “capitulation” of the 
Spaniards, General Toral having urged the use 
of the word “ capitulation ” rather than “ sur¬ 
render.” 

Under the terms of this agreement 1 General 

1 This agreement, as finally drawn up and signed by the 
Spanish and American commissioners, read : — 

“ Terms of the military convention for the capitulation of 





Major-General Miles 









Surrender of Santiago 

Toral handed to General Shafter a roster of 
22,789 men, to which several thousand were 

the Spanish forces occupying the territory which constitutes the 
division of Santiago de Cuba, and described as follows : — 

“ All that portion of the island of Cuba east of a line passing 
through Asseraderos, Dos Palmos, Cantoabajo, Escondida, Ta- 
namo, and Aguilera $ said troops being in command of General 
Jose Toral : 

“ Agreed upon by the undersigned commissioners, Brigadier- 
General Don Federico Escario, Lieutenant Colonel of Staff, Don 
Ventura Fontan, and as interpreter, Mr. Robert Mason, of the 
City of Santiago de Cuba, appointed by General Toral, com¬ 
manding the Spanish forces, on behalf of the kingdom of Spain. 

“ And Major-General Joseph Wheeler, U. S. V. ; Major- 
General H. W. Lawton, U. S. V., and First Lieutenant T. D. 
Miley, Second Artillery, A. D. C., appointed by General 
Shafter, commanding the American forces, on behalf of the 
United States. 

“ 1. That all hostilities between the American and Spanish 
forces in this district shall absolutely and unequivocally cease. 

“ 2 . That this capitulation shall include all the forces and 
war material in said territory. 

“ 3. That the United States agrees, with as little delay as * 
possible, to transport all the Spanish troops in said district to 
the kingdom of Spain, the troops being embarked as far as 
possible at the port nearest the garrisons they now occupy. 

“ 4. That the officers of the Spanish army be permitted to 
retain their side arms and both officers and private soldiers their 
personal property. 

“ 5. That the Spanish authorities agree to remove or assist 
in removing all mines or other obstructions to navigation now 
in the harbor of Santiago and its mouth. 

“6. That the commander of the Spanish forces deliver 


211 



History up to Date 

added later from the garrisons of the towns in 
the province of Santiago de Cuba. These 
troops were sent to Spain by the United States, 
a contract for their transportation being awarded 
to the Compania Espanol Trasatlantica. This 
company was not as prompt as it might have 
been in fulfilling its contract, and many of the 

without delay a complete inventory of all arms and munitions 
of war of the Spanish forces in the above described district to 
the commander of the American forces, also a roster of said 
forces now in said district. 

“ 7. That the commander of the Spanish forces on leaving 
said district is authorized to carry with him all military archives 
and records pertaining to the Spanish army now in said district. 

‘ ‘8. That all that portion of the Spanish forces known as 
volunteers, mobilizados, and guerillas, who wish to remain in 
the island of Cuba, are permitted to do so upon condition of 
delivering up their arms and taking a parole not to bear arms 
against the United States during the continuance of the present 
war between Spain and the United States. 

“9. That the Spanish forces will march out at Santiago de 
Cuba with honors of war, depositing their arms thereafter at a 
point mutually agreed upon to await their disposition by the 
United States government, it being understood that the United 
States Commissioners will recommend that the Spanish soldier 
will return to Spain with the arms he so bravely defended. 

“ 10. That the provisions of the foregoing instrument be¬ 
come operative immediately upon its being signed. 

“Entered into this sixteenth day of July, eighteen hundred 
and ninety-eight, by the undersigned Commissioners, acting 
under instructions from their respective commanding generals 
and with the approbation of their respective governments.” 


212 


Surrender of Santiago 

Spanish soldiers died from fever while awaiting 
transportation. 

Under these articles, General Toral turned 
over more than ten thousand rifles and about 
ten million rounds of ammunition, together 
with some siege-guns. After the occupation of 
Santiago, American officers were sent to Guan¬ 
tanamo, Baracoa, and Sagua de Tanamo, and 
received the surrender of the garrisons there. 


213 


CHAPTER XLIV 


SANTIAGO AN AMERICAN CITY 

The surrender of Santiago on the day follow¬ 
ing the signing the terms of capitulation fur¬ 
nished many picturesque scenes. Escorted by 
two troops of the Second Cavalry, General 
Shafter rode out toward the city. He was 
accompanied by Generals Wheeler, Lawton, 
Kent, Chaffee, Young, Sumner, Hawkins, 
Wood, Ludlow, and Breckinridge and their 
staffs. 

General Toral and his staff, escorted by 
about one hundred infantrymen, came to meet 
Toral's them, and victor and vanquished came 
Surrender together about halfway between the 
American lines. As the two commanders 
neared each other they rode slightly in advance 
of their attending officers, and when within 
easy speaking distance drew rein simultaneously 
and raised their hats. Officers on both sides 
uncovered their heads, while the American 
cavalry escort deployed and presented sabres, 
214 


Santiago an American City 

the Spanish infantry responding by presenting 
arms. 

Salutations exchanged, General Shafter took 
from one of his aides the sword and spurs 
of the Spanish General Vara del Rey, who 
fell in defending El Caney, on July i, and 
presented them to General Toral, with his 
compliments. General Toral, much affected, 
accepted them and warmly thanked General 
Shafter. The formal surrender followed. 

<c I deliver up the city and province of 
Santiago de Cuba into the authority of the 
United States,” said General Toral, starting 
to offer his sword, but being instantly checked 
by General Shafter. The surrendered Span¬ 
ish troops, emerging from the city, filed past 
General Toral, saluting him as they marched 
by to stack their arms where the Thirteenth 
Infantry was waiting to receive them. 

Side by side General Shafter and General 
Toral rode into the city, where in the grand 
Entrance reception hall of the governor’s 
into the City palace the city was formally turned 
over to the Americans. The Spanish Gov¬ 
ernor Ros and the other municipal officers and 
the venerable Archbishop of Santiago were 
presented to the American officers. 

215 



History up to Date 

At noon Sunday, July 17, the stars and 
stripes were raised on the governor’s palace, 
the bands played the “ Star Spangled Banner,” 
and Captain Capron’s battery fired a salute of 
twenty-one guns. Santiago had passed forever 
from the hands of Spain. 

Only two unpleasant incidents occurred 
during the surrender. An American news¬ 
paper correspondent became involved in an 
untimely dispute with General Shafter, and 
attempted to strike him, — an offence for which 
he was imprisoned and later sent to the United 
States. The other incident was of a more seri¬ 
ous character. General Calixto Garcia, accord¬ 
ing to his own statement, had General Shafter’s 
pledge that the Americans and Cubans should 
enter Santiago together and occupy it jointly. 
The Cubans having failed to prevent General 
Escario entering the city, and being accused of 
looting, Shafter not only did not invite General 
Garcia to participate in the capitulation of 
Santiago, but positively forbade the Cubans 
entering the city. As a result, Garcia with¬ 
drew his forces from Santiago, resigned from 
his command, not returning to Santiago until 
long after Shafter had gone to the United 
States. 


216 



Santiago an American City 

After the occupation of Santiago General 
McKibben was acting governor for several days. 
General Brigadier-General Leonard Wood, for- 
Wood. as merly Colonel of the “ Rough Riders,” 
Governor was t j len mac j e governor of the city, 
and General Lawton was placed in command 
of all the American troops in Eastern Cuba, a 
department being created in the army known 
as the “ Department of Santiago.” 

Prompt measures were taken to open up 
Santiago harbor to commerce, the duties were 
temporarily fixed at the minimum of the Span¬ 
ish tariff, and before many days had passed 
business was again being transacted in the city 
in almost the usual volume. 

General Wood took immediate steps to 
improve sanitary conditions in the city. He 
found offices for as many of the Cubans as he 
could well provide for, making General Castillo 
his assistant and counsel in arranging affairs 
with the Cubans. This course soon made him 
as popular even with General Garcia’s adherents 
as General Shafter had been unpopular, and 
soon Santiago was a flourishing city of trade 
again. So able a governor did General Wood 
prove to be that it was not long before he was 
made governor of the district, and the first 
217 


History up to Date 

month of the new year found further advance- 
ment proffered him. 

In the Spanish and American camps the 
conditions, while they remained there, were far 
from being as encouraging as in the city itself 
Lack of transportation kept them there many 
weeks, exposed to malarial, typhoid, and yel- 
Horrors of low fevers, and the death rate became 
ih e Camps enormous. The American officers 
united in a protest at having their men kept 
there inactive in a deadly climate, but before 
all the troops were removed many hundreds 
who had gone through the war unscathed by 
shot and shell perished from disease. To add 
to the horrors, several of the transports were 
not properly supplied and there was much 
suffering en route to the United States. 

Several regiments of immunes — men who 
were supposed to be proof against the perils 
of the Cuban climate — were enlisted and sent 
to Santiago to form the permanent garrison in 
place of the Fifth Army Corps soldiers, but 
even among the immunes the mortality was 
high. 


2 l8 



CHAPTER XLV 


THE FLEET OF CAMARA 

Although Spain had professed to have great 
hopes that Admiral Cervera would be success¬ 
ful in escaping from Santiago harbor, naval 
experts generally, including those in Madrid, 
realized that it was almost a hopeless task. 
The War Board in Madrid accordingly planned 
a counter move in the hope of striking a blow 
at the United States and at the same time with¬ 
drawing part of the strong force that had 
Admiral Cervera’s fleet bottled in Santiago 
harbor. 

This counter move was nothing less than 
the despatching of a fleet to the Philippines 
Camara's under command of Admiral Camara. 
Squadron j n thi S fleet were the battle-ship 
“ Pelayo ” and the armored cruiser “ Carlos 
V.,” the “ Osada,” the “ Patriota,” the “ Buenos 
Ayres,” the “ Isla de Panay,” the “ Rapido,” 
the “ Isla de Luzon,” the “ San Francisco,” 
and the “ San Ignace de Loyola.” Of these 
vessels the only two to be at all feared as 
219 


History up to Date 

fighting craft were the “ Pelayo ” and the 
cc Carlos V.” 

When it became rumored in the United 
States that this fleet was to proceed to the 
Philippines, the Naval War Board promptly 
planned an expedition against the coast of 
Spain. A squadron was made up, to be com¬ 
manded by Commodore Watson, which it was 
intended to despatch first to the Canaries and 
then to the Spanish coast, the intention being 
thereafter to follow the fleet of Camara through 
the Suez Canal. In this fleet were included 
several of the strongest and swiftest of the 
American battle-ships and cruisers. 

Great publicity was given to the intentions 
of the United States, no doubt with the view 
of deterring the Spanish admiral from carrying 
out his plans, for his departure would leave 
the coasts of Spain absolutely unprotected, ex¬ 
cept for land fortifications. Eventually the 
scheme of the United States was successful. 

Admiral Camara, on arriving at Port Said, 
the entrance to the Suez Canal, delayed for two 
Suez Can a l or three days. Efforts were made to 
passed purchase coal there, and a small 
quantity was obtained, despite the strict en¬ 
forcement of the neutrality laws. In accord- 
220 


The Fleet of Camara 

ance with these laws, when twenty-four hours 
had elapsed, he was notified that he must leave 
the neutral harbor of Port Said at once. He 
delayed a little longer, on the ground of mak¬ 
ing needed repairs. Part of Camara's fleet 
then returned to Spain. He then endeavored 
to proceed through the canal, but again there 
came a delay. The governors of the canal re¬ 
fused to accept a draft on the Bank of Spain 
for the canal dues. Camara finally paid the 
amount in coin and proceeded to Suez. 

Charges were made not only for the ships 
themselves, but there was also a per capita 
charge for each man on board. This brought 
the total sum up to a large amount for a na¬ 
tion so poverty-stricken as Spain. This large 
sum having been paid, the United States could 
only believe that such an expenditure was made 
with the intent of proceeding to Manila. Pre¬ 
parations for sending Commodore Watson’s 
fleet to Europe were accordingly hastened, and 
colliers were gotten together to accompany the 
American squadron across the Atlantic. 

Hardly had Admiral Camara’s fleet reached 
Suez when orders from Madrid arrived for it 
Ordered to return to Spain. These orders 
to return undoubtedly were due to the fear in- 
22 * 


History up to Date 

spired in Spain by the active preparations for 
the departure of Commodore Watson’s squad¬ 
ron. Admiral Camara, on the receipt of these 
orders, immediately headed his fleet for Spain, 
returning through the canal, and arriving at 
Port Said on Sunday, July io, just one week 
after the destruction of Admiral Cervera’s 
squadron at Santiago de Cuba. 

This profitless venture on the part of Spain 
cost her one hundred and sixteen thousand 
dollars in canal dues alone. The ships reached 
Spain in a crippled condition. It was now 
realized by all parties in Spain that there was 
little or no chance for any further resistance 
to the Americans at sea. To the Spaniards, 
already disheartened by the return of Camara’s 
squadron and the destruction of Cervera’s, 
came the still more dispiriting news of the 
surrender of the army of General Toral at 
Santiago. 

People and press began openly to advocate 
that Spain should sue for peace. The Pope 
brought great influence to bear to obtain a 
truce between the United States and Spain. It 
was broadly hinted that Spain was ready to 
hear on what terms the United States would 
agree to end the war. 


322 


The Fleet of Camara 

The United States was not, however, at all 
anxious to end the war just yet. There was 
every indication that the popular loan provided 
for by Congress would be subscribed three 
times over. 

With enormous funds at hand for war pur¬ 
poses, with an uncrippled fleet, with large forces 
of eager volunteers, the United States has¬ 
tened to the occupation of Porto Rico and the 
establishment of a firmer footing in the Philip¬ 
pines, with a view to having her position all 
the stronger when the approaching peace, de¬ 
lineated in the war horizon in unmistakable 
signs, should become a fact. 


223 


CHAPTER XLVI 


CAMPAIGN IN PORTO RICO 

Early in the war the blockade of Cuban ports 
had been extended to include the principal port 
of the Spanish island of Porto Rico, San Juan. 
Admiral Sampson, with the cruiser “ New 
York,” the battle-ships “ Indiana ” and <c Iowa,” 
the monitors “ Terror ” and “ Amphitrite,” the 
cruisers “ Montgomery” and“ Detroit,” and the 
torpedo boat “ Porter,” had bombarded the 
fortifications of the harbor for three hours on 
the morning of May 12. 

During this bombardment the fortress of 
San Cristobal was somewhat damaged and 
Houses in several churches and private houses 
Porto Rico were struck by the American shells. 
Eight Spanish soldiers were killed and thirty- 
four wounded. On the American side, one 
seaman on the “ New York” was killed and 
four wounded by a Spanish shell. Three of 
the crew of the cc Iowa” were wounded, and a 
gunner’s mate on the <c Amphitrite ” fell dead 
from heart failure beside his gun. 

224 


Campaign in Porto Rico 

Though many of the residents of San Juan 
fled from the city in terror, fearing another 
bombardment, beyond maintaining a desultory 
blockade of the harbor, no steps to capture the 
city or the island were taken by the United 
States until after the fall of Santiago. When 
the campaign against Porto Rico did begin, it 
was carried on with energy. Even before 
General Toral had surrendered, Major-General 
Nelson A. Miles, the general commanding 
the United States Army, had started for Porto 
Rico. Within a few days thereafter nearly 
fifteen thousand troops had embarked or were 
ready to embark for Porto Rico from Tampa, 
Charleston, and Newport News. General 
Miles also took with him about 3,500 men 
from Santiago. 

The War Department had planned that 
General Miles should make his first landing at 
Fajardo, on the north coast of the island. 
This fact had been published in the United 
States; and General Miles, considering this an 
imprudent policy, without informing the War 
Department of his intentions, made his first 
landing at Guanica, on the south coast, on 
July 1 6. 

The “ Gloucester ’ ’ first entered the harbor and 
15 225 


History up to Date 

fired a few shots ; but the resistance, as in most 
Americans of the other Porto Rican towns, was 
welcomed 0 nly nominal, and the American flag 
was soon raised over the city, amid the cheers 
of the populace. General Miles the next day 
issued a proclamation to the people of Porto 
Rico with the view of encouraging the good 
feeling already manifested. 

Ponce, the second largest city on the island, 
surrendered a day or two after Guanica, the 
Spanish garrison having retreated to the moun¬ 
tains. Here, as at Guanica, the arrival of the 
American forces was greeted with glad cheers of 
“ Vive Americanos ! ” The capture of Yauco, 1 

1 Typical of the feeling manifested by the Porto Ricans 
toward the Americans was this proclamation of the Mayor of 
Yauco: — 

“ Citizens: To-day the citizens of Porto Rico assist in one 
of her most beautiful feasts. The sun of America shines upon 
our mountains and valleys this day of July, 1898. It is a day 
of glorious remembrance for each son of this beloved isle, 
because for the first time there waves over it the flag of the stars 
planted in the name of the government of the United States by 
the Major-General of the American army, Senor Miles. Porto 
Ricans, we are, by the virtue of the miraculous intervention of 
the God of the Just, given back to the bosom of our mother 
America, in whose waters nature placed us as people of America. 
To her we are given back in the name of her government by. 
General Miles, and we must send our most expressive salutation 
of generous affection through our conduct toward the valiant 

226 





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Campaign in Porto Rico 

which followed, was more like the triumphal 
return of a home army than the entrance of a 
hostile one. 

General Miles* forces nevertheless did not 
find their advance toward San Juan entirely 
without opposition. At Guayama and again at 
Arecibo, Fajardo, and Aibonito, the Spaniards 
offered some resistance, but in all the skirmishes 
in the island the American losses were light. 
There were in all only three privates of 
General Miles* army killed in Porto Rico, while 
the wounded comprised four officers and thirty- 
six men. 

The signing of the peace protocol and the 
truce that followed found the forces of General 
Miles steadily advancing on San Juan from 
several different directions, and had hostilities 
lasted a few days longer there is little doubt 
that the city would have been forced to 
surrender. 

troops, represented by distinguished officers and commanded 
by the illustrious General Miles. 

“ Citizens, long live the government of the United States of 
America! Hail to their valiant troops! Hail, Porto Rico, 
always American! 

“ El Alcalde , Francisco Magia, 

“ Yauco, Porto Rico, United States of America.” 


227 


CHAPTER XLVII 


THE FALL OF MANILA 

Affairs in the Philippines had meanwhile been 
rapidly approaching a crisis. Admiral Dewey, 
after the destruction of the Spanish fleet, held 
Manila Bay and Cavite, and awaited the arrival 
of land forces. An attempt on the part of some 
German war-ships to interfere with a party of 
the insurgents met with such a forcible protest 
from Admiral Dewey that the German fleet 
thereafter preserved strict neutrality. The 
German government promptly repudiated any 
intention to interfere with American affairs, and 
the incident was closed without serious result. 

Major-General Merritt, commanding the 
American forces in the Philippines, arrived at 
Merritt's Cavite, in Manila Bay, on July 25. 
Campaign The insurgents under Aguinaldo had 
been waging desultory warfare on the Spaniards, 
and had gradually driven them into the city of 
Manila. Aguinaldo, encouraged by his suc¬ 
cesses, had proclaimed himself president of the 
Filipinos, assuming the powers of “ dictator/’ 
228 


The Fall of Manila 

Although there had been some co-operation 
between the United States fleet and the insur¬ 
gents, with the arrival of General Merritt it was 
practically ended. 

General Merritt promptly began pushing his 
troops forward toward Manila; and the Span¬ 
iards, noticing his active advance, on th$ night 
of July 31 attacked the American outposts with 
infantry and artillery, but were repulsed after 
some sharp fighting. The American advance 
was at this time commanded by General Greene. 
General Mac Arthur’s brigade arrived on July 
31, and these troops were at once hurried ashore 
to support General Greene. 

General Merritt now had 8,500 men in posi¬ 
tion for attack, and he decided that the time for 
final assault had come. On August 7 a joint 
note was sent by General Merritt and Admiral 
Dewey to the Captain-General of the Philip¬ 
pines, notifying him to remove all non-com¬ 
batants in Manila to a place of safety within 
forty-eight hours, as operations against the 
defences of Manila were about to begin. 

General Augustin, who had been captain- 
general, when he found that the authorities in 
Augustin Madrid were not sending him any 
resigns reinforcements, refused to be respon- 
229 



History up to Date 

sible either for the defence or surrender of the 
city of Manila, and resigned his office, being suc¬ 
ceeded by General Fermin Jaudenes. General 
Jaudenes to the joint note replied that he had 
no place of safety for non-combatants. 

A formal demand for the surrender of the 
city was then made on August 9. General 
Jaudenes replied that he could not surrender, 
but offered to consult the government in Ma¬ 
drid if time were allowed. 

This request was refused, and on August 13 
the American fleet and army began an attack 
on the city which met with only a nominal re¬ 
sistance from the Spaniards. After some little 
fighting the Spaniards raised a white flag, and 
within a few hours there had been signed ar¬ 
ticles of capitulation. 1 

1 The articles of capitulation were as follows : — 

‘‘The undersigned, having been appointed a commission to 
determine the details of the capitulation of the city and defences 
of Manila and its suburbs, and the Spanish forces stationed 
therein, in accordance with the agreement entered into the pre¬ 
vious day by Major-General Wesley Merritt, United States 
Army, American Commander-in-chief in the Philippines, and 
his Excellency Don Fermin Jaudenes, Acting General-in-chief of 
the Spanish army in the Philippines, have agreed upon the fol¬ 
lowing :- 

“1. The Spanish troops, European and native, capitulate 
with the city and its defences, with all the honors of war, de- 

230 


The Fall of Manila 

By the capitulation of Manila the Ameri¬ 
cans came into possession of thirteen thousand 

positing their arms in the places designated by the authorities of 
the United States, and remaining in the quarters designated and 
under the orders of their officers, and subject to the control of 
the aforesaid United States authorities, until the conclusion of a 
treaty of peace between the two belligerent nations. 

“ All persons included in the capitulation remain at liberty, 
the officers remaining in their respective homes, which shall be 
respected as long as they observe the regulations prescribed for 
their government and the laws in force. 

“ 2 . Officers shall retain their side arms, horses, and private 
property. 

“ 3. All public horses and public property of all kinds shall 
be turned over to staff officers designated by the United States. 

“4. Complete returns in duplicate of men by organizations, 
and full lists of public property and stores, shall be rendered to 
the United States within ten days from this date. 

(( 5. All questions relating to the repatriation of officers and 
men of the Spanish forces and of their families, and of the ex¬ 
penses which said repatriation may occasion, shall be referred to 
the government of the United States at Washington. Spanish 
families may leave Manila at any time convenient to them. 
The return of the arms surrendered by the Spanish forces shall 
take place when they evacuate the city or when the American 
army evacuates. 

“ 6. Officers and men included in the capitulation shall be 
supplied by the United States, according to their rank, with 
rations and necessary aid, as though they were prisoners of war, 
until the conclusion of a treaty of peace between the United 
States and Spain. All the funds in the Spanish Treasury and 
all other public funds shall be turned over to the authorities of 
the United States. 

<< 7. This city, its inhabitants, its churches and religious 
231 


History up to Date 

prisoners, twenty-two thousand arms, and Span¬ 
ish property valued at nearly a million dollars. 
Three days after the city capitulated, advices 
were received from President McKinley that a 
truce had been proclaimed on August 12, the 
day before the city fell. 

After the surrender of Manila, Aguinaldo, 
the insurgent leader, withdrew his troops and 
established his headquarters at Malolos, some 
sixty miles from Manila. General Merritt, in 
accordance with instructions from Washington, 
on August 30 departed for Paris to attend 
the conferences of the Spanish and American 
Peace Commissioners, leaving General Otis in 
command at Manila. 

worship, its educational establishments, and its private property 
of all descriptions are placed under the special safeguard of the 
faith and honor of the American army.” 

This document was signed by F. V. Greene, Brigadier- 
General of Volunteers, United States Army ; B. P. Lamberton, 
Captain, United States Navy ; Charles A. Whittier, Lieutenant- 
Colonel and Inspector-General ; E. H. Crowder, Lieutenant- 
Colonel and Judge Advocate; Nicolas de la Petra, Auditor- 
General Excmo; Carlos, Coronel de Ingenieros, and Jose, 
Coronel de Estado Major. 


232 


CHAPTER XLVIII 


SPAIN SUES FOR PEACE 

The destruction of the- fleets of Admiral 
Montojo and Admiral Cervera, the surrender 
of Santiago and the American advance on 
Porto Rico, left Spain with no hope of victory. 
That Spain should now sue for peace was 
openly urged by press, people, and cabinet in 
Madrid. 

These views prevailed; and by the direction 
of the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, 
M. Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador to 
the United States, who had been acting as 
Spain’s representative in Washington, on Tues¬ 
day, July 26, presented to the President at the 
White House a message from the Spanish 
government, looking to the termination of the 
war and the settlement of the terms of peace. 
This note in substance read: — 

“ The government of the United States and the 
government of Spain are unhappily at war, as a result 
of the demand of the United States that Spain with' 
233 


History up to Date 

draw from the island of Cuba, which demand she 
refused to comply with. In the contest of arms 
which followed, Spain admits that she has been 
Spain worsted and that her sufferings as a result 

admits her are very great. She believes that the time 
De f eat has now come when she can properly 
ask the co-operation of the United States in terminat¬ 
ing the war, and, therefore, asks to be furnished 
through the French Ambassador with a statement of 
the terms upon which the United States would be 
willing to make peace.” 

President McKinley’s reply to this was that 
the matter was of such gravity that he wished 
to consult with his Cabinet before giving a 
reply. The reply was formulated several days 
later and communicated to the Spanish govern¬ 
ment through the French Ambassador. After 
some minor changes the demands of the United 
States were accepted by Spain. 

As a result, on Friday, August 12, 1898, in 
the Cabinet room of the White House in 
Signing of Washington, a peace protocol was 
the Protocol signed in duplicate by William R. 
Day, Secretary of State, for the United States, 
and M. Jules Cambon, French Ambassador to 
the United States, for Spain. There were pres¬ 
ent at the signing, besides the President and the 
234 


Spain Sues for Peace 

signers, M. Eugene Thiebaut, First Secretary 
of the French Embassy; John B. Moore, 
Assistant Secretary of State; A. A. Adee, 
Second Assistant Secretary of State; and 
Thomas W. Cridler, Third Assistant Secretary 
of State. 

The protocol provisions were : —- 

“ i. That Spain will relinquish all claim of 
sovereignty over and title to Cuba. 

u 2. That Porto Rico and the other Spanish islands 
in the West Indies and an island in the Ladrones, to 
be selected by the United States, shall be ceded to 
the lattep 

M 3. That the United States will occupy and hold 
the city, bay, and harbor of Manila pending the 
conclusion of a treaty of peace, which shall deter¬ 
mine the control, disposition, and government of the 
Philippines. 

“ 4. That Cuba, Porto Rico, and the other Spanish 
islands in the West Indies shall be immediately 
evacuated, and that Commissioners appointed within 
ten days shall within thirty days from the signing of 
the protocol meet at Havana and San Juan respec¬ 
tively to arrange and execute the details of the 
evacuation. 

w 5. That the United States and Spain will each 
appoint not more than five Commissioners to nego¬ 
tiate and conclude a treaty of peace. The Commis- 
2 35 


History up to Date 

sioners are to meet at Paris not later than the 1st of 
October, 1898. 

“ 6. On the signing of the protocol, hostilities will 
be suspended, and notice to that effect will be given 
as soon as possible by each government to the com¬ 
manders of its military and naval forces.” 

Immediately upon the signing of the proto¬ 
col, President McKinley issued a proclamation 
ordering a suspension of hostilities on the part 
of the United States. 

Commissioners to arrange for the evacuation 
of Cuba and Porto Rico were speedily ap- 
Evacuation pointed, as provided in the protocol. 
Commissions and October 1 found the Spanish 
troops being withdrawn from both the islands. 

To represent her in the evacuation of Porto 
Rico, Spain appointed Major-General Ortega y 
Diaz, Commodore of first rank ; Vallarino y 
Carrasco; and Judge Advocate Sanchez del 
Aguila y Leon. The United States represen¬ 
tatives in Porto Rico were Major-General 
W. R. Brooke, who had been left in command 
of the United States forces there when Major- 
General Miles returned to the United States; 
Rear-Admiral Winfield Scott Schley ; and Gen¬ 
eral W. W. Gordon. 

As Evacuation Commissioners in Cuba, 
236 


Spain Sues for Peace 

Spain named Major-General Gonzales Parrado, 
second in command of the Spanish troops in 
the island; Marquis Montoro; and Rear- 
Admiral Pastor y. Landero. The latter was 
unable to serve on account of ill health, and his 
place was filled by Rear-Admiral Manterola. 
The United States Evacuation Commissioners 
for Cuba were Major-General John C. Wade, 
Major-General M. C. Butler, and Rear- 
Admiral Sampson. 

The selection of five commissioners to draw 
up a treaty of peace occasioned no little trouble 
The Peace t in Madrid, for most of the men pro- 
Commission niinent in Spain’s public life refused 
to endanger their political future by accepting 
places on a commission which, at the best, 
could not expect to make terms at all pleasing 
to Spain. The Spanish Peace Commission, as 
finally completed, included only one man of 
international reputation, Senor Montero y 
Rios, President of the Senate, who was made 
chairman of the commission. The other 
Spanish Commissioners were General Cerero 
and Sefiors Abarzuza, Villa-Urrutia, and de 
Garnica. 

In the commission which drew up a treaty 
of peace, the representatives of the United 
237 


History up to Date 

States were Judge William R. Day, of Ohio, 
who resigned as Secretary of State to head the 
commission; Senator George Gray, of Dela¬ 
ware; Senator W. P. Frye,-of Maine ; Senator 
Cushman K. Davis, of Minnesota; and Mr. 
Whitelaw Reid, of New York. 


238 


CHAPTER XLIX 


OUTCOME OF THE WAR 

The war with Spain lasted not quite four 
months, yet the amount spent by the United 
States in that time was more than $ 140,000,000. 
Up to August 3 1, the United States in an army 
of 265,000 men had lost only 2,624 by deaths 
from all causes, a little less than one per cent. 

In Cuba the Americans had killed twenty- 
three officers and 237 men ; in Porto Rico no 
Americans * officers and three men. In Cuba 
Total Losses the Americans had wounded 99 
officers and 1,332 men; in Porto Rico four 
officers and thirty-six men, and in the Philippines 
ten officers and eighty-eight men. In addition 
to these, nine officers and eighty-two men 
died from wounds, thirty men were killed in 
accidents, and seventy-five officers and 2,150 
men died from fevers and other diseases. 

Two fleets of Spanish war-ships had been 
entirely destroyed, many smaller gunboats and 
auxiliary vessels had been sunk or captured, 
many merchant vessels taken as prizes, yet 
the American navy had not lost a single ship 

239 



History up to Date 

nor more than a score of men in these victo¬ 
ries that made Dewey, Sampson, and Schley 
rear-admirals, and advanced the captains under 
them several numbers in the navy lists. 

Porto Rico passed into the hands of the 
United States on Nov. 18, 1898, the last of 
Cession of the Spanish troops departing within a 
Porto Rico very few days thereafter, leaving Gen¬ 
eral Brooke in undisturbed possession as mili¬ 
tary commander, with General Frederick D. 
Grant in command of the district around San 
Juan, the capital. The first of the year 1899 
found General Henry in command. General 
Brooke having been ordered home. 

In Cuba evacuation was necessarily delayed 
a little longer, as the island contained a much 
larger number of Spanish troops, the transpor¬ 
tation of which to Spain with only a limited 
number of troop-ships available took several 
months. But New Year’s Day, 1899, found 
the island formally evacuated and Havana 
under the stars and stripes. 

The war had resulted in the strengthening 
of the United States Navy by purchase of for¬ 
eign men-of-war and by the addition of auxil¬ 
iary vessels. The need of a coaling station in 
the Pacific for vessels going to Manila led to 
240 


Outcome of the War 

the admission of the Hawaiian Islands as 
territory of the United States. The taking 
of Guam gave the United States still another 
coaling station nearer the Asiatic coast. 

The final disposition of the Philippines had 
been left to the Peace Commission in Paris. 
The Philip- When this Commission met, the 
pine Islands Spanish members used considerable 
time endeavoring to have the enormous debts 
contracted by Spain in repressing rebellions 
on Cuba saddled on the island or guaranteed 
by the United States. Failing in this, they 
consented at last to have the part of the 
protocol relating to Cuba and Porto Rico 
embodied in the final treaty of peace. 

President McKinley had at first been desir¬ 
ous of retaining only the city and bay of Manila, 
or possibly the island of Luzon, but the sen¬ 
timent of the people in the United States was 
so strongly in favor of the retention of the 
entire group, and that course was so urgently 
counselled by military and naval commanders, 
that the President was led to accept this view. 
In compensation for the Philippines the Ameri¬ 
can commissioners were instructed to offer to 
assume the Philippine debts Spain had con¬ 
tracted, for the permanent benefit of the islands. 

16 241 


CHAPTER L 


THE TREATY OF PARIS 

On Christmas Eve, 1898, the five Peace Com¬ 
missioners whom President McKinley had sent 
to Paris in September in accordance with the 
protocols signed in August, in the Executive 
Mansion in Washington, delivered over to the 
President a copy of a treaty of peace which 
they and the commissioners of Spain had 
signed in Paris two weeks before. 

In this Treaty of Paris, signed Dec. 10, 
1898, it was provided that: 

Spain relinquished her sovereignty over 
Provisions of Cuba, which was to be occupied by 
the Treaty the United States for an indefinite 
period. 

Spain ceded to the United States Porto 
Rico and the other islands under Spanish sov¬ 
ereignty in the West Indies, the island of Guam 
in the Ladrones, and the whole of the Philip¬ 
pine Archipelago, the United States having 
agreed to pay Spain within three months after 
242 


The Treaty of Paris 

the ratification of the treaty the sum of twenty 
millions. 

These were the principal provisions of the 
treaty, the other articles providing for the 
maintenance of personal and property rights, 
the adjudication of claims, the disposition of 
military property, and such other subjects as 
are to be found in every treaty of modern 
times. 

The war that the United States had under¬ 
taken for the purpose of freeing the island of 
Cuba from Spanish rule, had accomplished 
much more, but it was not until after a diplo¬ 
matic battle that in its intensity equalled the 
fiercest of the fighting at San Juan Hill or 
El Caney. When the joint commission first 
met in Paris, Montero Rios, for the Spaniards, 
insisted that, as a necessary preliminary to fur¬ 
ther negotiations, the United States land and 
naval forces be at once withdrawn from the 
Philippines. 

Unable to carry this point, Senor Rios, step 
by step, fought every move the Americans 
made, tried to prove by every trick of logic 
known to diplomatism that the United States 
by occupying Cuba had become respon¬ 
sible for the enormous debt that Spain had 

243 


History up to Date 

saddled on the island for expenses incurred in 
putting down rebellions. When he saw that 
the Philippines must be yielded, he demanded 
that Spain be reimbursed for the money she 
had expended in fighting the Filipinos, and 
the sum of $ 20,000,000 that the United States 
agreed to pay was in reality a compromise of 
this .claim. 

President McKinley and, for that matter. 
Judge Day, the head of the American com- 
America’s mission, at the beginning of the ne- 
NewEpoch gotiations had been in favor of 
demanding only the island of Luzon in the 
Philippines; but so universal was the cry 
throughout the United States for the retention 
of the whole archipelago, that the commission 
was instructed to make a demand to that effect 
upon the Spanish Commissioners that was vir¬ 
tually an ultimatum. Without a navy, with 
the nation apparently on the verge of a revo¬ 
lution, the Spanish Commissioners were forced 
to yield, after having three times threatened to 
break off negotiations altogether; and the 
document was signed that marked the begin¬ 
ning of a new and momentous epoch for the 
young republic of the West. 

As by this treaty the once powerful king- 
244 


The Treaty of Paris 

dom of Spain lost all that was left of the rich 
colonies she had once possessed in the Ameri¬ 
can continents and islands, by this treaty the 
United States, hardly a century before only a 
colony itself, became the mother of colonies and 
a not-to-be-despised factor in the affairs of the 
Far East, where the Great Powers of Europe 
were with jealous eyes watching one another’s 
efforts to gain new lands, new wealth, new power. 

It was not, however, without some oppo¬ 
sition, both external and internal, that the 
United States assumed control of the Philip¬ 
pines. The senate delayed ratifying the treaty 
until February 6, 1899, t ^ le vote t ^ len being 
fifty-seven to twenty-seven, barely over the 
two-thirds vote required. 

That the needed votes were gained then was 
due to the fact that the Filipinos the day 
before had attacked the American troops at 
Manila in a vain effort to establish themselves 
as rulers of Manila. The line of battle ex¬ 
tended for seventeen miles around the city, and 
several scores of American troops were killed 
and many more wounded, but the Filipinos 
were decisively routed, with losses in killed, 
wounded, and prisoners, aggregating thousands. 


245 


Appendix 

THE TREATY OF PEACE WITH 
. SPAIN 

The United States of America and Her 
Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain, in the 
name of Her- August Son, Don Alfonso XIII., 
desiring to end the state of war now existing between 
the two countries, have for that purpose appointed as 
plenipotentiaries : 

The President of the United States, 

William R. Day, Cushman K. Davis, William P. 
Frye, George Gray, and Whitelaw Reid, citizens of 
the United States; 

And her Majesty the Queen Regent of 
Spain, 

Don Eugenio Montero Rios, President of the 
Senate; Don Buenaventura de Abarzuza, Senator of 
the Kingdom and ex-Minister of the Crown; Don 
Jose de Garnica, Deputy to the Cortes and Associate 
Justice of the Supreme Court; Don Wenceslao 
Ramirez de Villa-Urrutia, Envoy Extraordinary and 
Minister Plenipotentiary at Brussels; and Don Rafael 
Cerero, General of Division; 

247 


Appendix 

Who, having assembled in Paris, and having ex¬ 
changed their full powers, which were found to be in 
due and proper form, have, after discussion of the 
matters before them, agreed upon the following 
articles : 

Article I 

Spain relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and 
title to Cuba. 

And as the island is, upon its evacuation by Spain, 
to be occupied by the United States, the United 
States will, so long as such occupation shall last, as¬ 
sume and discharge the obligations that may under 
international law result from the fact of its occupa¬ 
tion, for the protection of life and property. 

Article II 

Spain cedes to the United States the island of 
Porto Rico and other islands now under Spanish sov¬ 
ereignty in the West Indies and the island of Guam 
in the Marianas or Ladrones. 

Article III 

Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago 
known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending 
the islands lying within the following line : 

A line running from west to east along or near the 
twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the 
middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the 
248 


Appendix 

one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one 
hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian 
of longitude east of Greenwich, thence along the one 
hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian 
of longitude east of Greenwich to the parallel of four 
degrees and forty-five minutes (4 0 45') north latitude, 
thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty-five 
minutes (4 0 45') north latitude to its intersection with 
the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen 
degrees and thirty-five minutes (119° 35') east of 
Greenwich, thence along the meridian of longitude 
one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty-five 
minutes (119° 35') east of Greenwich, to the parallel 
of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7 0 40') 
north, thence along the parallel of latitude seven 
degrees and forty minutes (7 0 40') north to its 
intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth 
(116th) degree meridian of longitude east of Green¬ 
wich, thence by a direct line to the intersection of 
the tenth (10th) degree parallel of north latitude with 
the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree merid¬ 
ian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along 
the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree merid¬ 
ian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of 
beginning. 

The United States will pay to Spain the sum of 
twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three 
months after the exchange of the ratifications of the 
present treaty. 


249 


Appendix 

Article IV 

The United States will, for the term of ten years 
from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of 
the present treaty, admit Spanish ships and merchan¬ 
dise to the ports of the Philippine Islands on the same 
terms as ships and merchandise of the United States. 

Article V 

The United States will, upon the signature of the 
present treaty, send back to Spain, at its own cost, 
the Spanish soldiers taken as prisoners of war on 
the capture of Manila by the American forces. The 
arms of the soldiers in question shall be restored to 
them. 

Spain will, upon the exchange of the ratifications 
of the present treaty, proceed to evacuate the Philip¬ 
pines, as well as the island of Guam, on terms simi¬ 
lar to those agreed upon by the Commissioners 
appointed to arrange for the evacuation of Porto 
Rico and other islands in the West Indies under the 
procotol of August 12, 1898, which is to continue in 
force till its provisions are completely executed. 

The time within which the evacuation of the 
Philippine Islands and Guam shall be complete shall 
be fixed by the two governments. Stands of colors, 
uncaptured war-vessels, small arms, guns of all cali¬ 
bres, with their carriages and accessories, powder, 
ammunition, live stock, and materials and supplies of 
250 


Appendix 

all kinds, belonging to the land and naval forces of 
Spain in the Philippines and Guam, remain the prop¬ 
erty of Spain. Pieces of heavy ordnance, exclusive 
of field artillery, in the fortifications and coast de¬ 
fences, shall remain in their emplacements for the 
term of six months, to be reckoned from the exchange 
of ratifications of the treaty; and the United States 
may, in the mean time, purchase such material from 
Spain, if a satisfactory agreement between the two 
governments on the subject shall be reached. 

Article VI 

Spain will, upon the signature of the present treaty, 
release all prisoners of war, and all persons detained 
or imprisoned for political offences, in connection 
with the insurrections in Cuba and the Philippines 
and the war with the United States. 

Reciprocally the United States will release all per¬ 
sons made prisoners of war by the American forces, 
and will undertake to obtain the release of all Spanish 
prisoners in the hands of the insurgents in Cuba and 
the Philippines. 

The government of the United States will at its 
own cost return to Spain, and the government of 
Spain will at its own cost return to the United States, 
Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, according to 
the situation of their respective homes, prisoners re¬ 
leased, or caused to be released by them, respectively, 
under this article. 


25 1 


Appendix 

Article VII 

The United States and Spain mutually relinquish 
all claims for indemnity, national and individual, of 
every kind, of either government, or of its citizens or 
subjects, against the other government, that may have 
arisen since the beginning of the late insurrection in 
Cuba and prior to the exchange of ratifications of the 
present treaty, including all claims for indemnity for 
the cost of the war. 

The United States will adjudicate and settle the 
claims of its citizens against Spain relinquished in this 
article. 

Article VIII 

In conformity with the provisions of Articles I., II., 
and III., of this treaty, Spain relinquishes in Cuba, 
and cedes in Porto Rico and other islands in the 
West Indies, in the island of Guam, and in the 
Philippine Archipelago, all the buildings, wharves, 
barracks, forts, structures, public highways and other 
immovable property which, in conformity with law, 
belong to the public domain, and as such belong to 
the Crown of Spain. 

And it is hereby declared that the relinquishment 
or cession, as the case may be, to which the preced¬ 
ing paragraph refers, cannot in any respect impair the 
property or rights which by law belong to the peace¬ 
ful possession of property of all kinds, of provinces, 
municipalities, public or private establishments, eccle- 
252 


Appendix 

siastical or civic bodies, or any other associations hav- 
ing legal capacity to acquire and possess property in 
the aforesaid territories renounced or ceded, or of pri¬ 
vate individuals, of whatsoever nationality such indi¬ 
viduals may be. 

The aforesaid relinquishment or cession, as the case 
may be, includes all documents exclusively referring 
to the sovereignty relinquished or ceded that may exist 
in the archives of the Peninsula. Where any docu¬ 
ment in such archives only in part relates to said 
sovereignty, a copy of such part will be furnished 
whenever it shall be requested. Like rules shall be 
reciprocally observed in favor of Spain in respect of 
documents in the archives of the islands above re¬ 
ferred to. 

In the aforesaid relinquishment or cession, as the 
case may be, are also included such rights as the Crown 
of Spain and its authorities possess in respect of the 
official archives and records, executive as well as 
judicial, in the islands above referred to, which relate 
to said islands or the rights and property of their 
inhabitants. Such archives and records shall be care¬ 
fully preserved, and private persons shall without 
distinction have the right to require, in accordance 
with law, authenticated copies of the contracts, wills, 
and other instruments forming part of notarial pro¬ 
tocols or files, or which may be contained in the ex¬ 
ecutive or judicial archives, be the latter in Spain or 
in the islands aforesaid. 


253 


Appendix 

Article IX 

Spanish subjects, natives of the Peninsula, residing 
in the territory over which Spain by the present treaty 
relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty, may remain in 
such territory or may remove therefrom, retaining in 
either event all their rights of property, including the 
right to sell or dispose of such property or of its pro¬ 
ceeds ; and they shall also have the right to carry on 
their industry, commerce, and professions, being sub¬ 
ject in respect thereof to such laws as are applicable 
to other foreigners. In case they remain in the terri¬ 
tory they may preserve their allegiance to the Crown 
of Spain by making, before a court of record, within 
a year from the date of the exchange of ratifications 
of this treaty, a declaration of their decision to pre¬ 
serve such allegiance ; in default of which declaration 
they shall be held to have renounced it and to have 
adopted the nationality of the territory in which they 
may reside. 

The civil rights and political status of the native 
inhabitants of the territories hereby ceded to the 
United States shall be determined by the Congress. 

Article X 

The inhabitants of the territories over which Spain 
relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty shall be secured 
in the free exercise of their religion. 

254 


Appendix 

Article XI 

The Spaniards residing in the territories over which 
Spain by this treaty cedes or relinquishes her sover- 
eignty shall be subject in matters civil as well as 
criminal to the jurisdiction of the courts of the 
country wherein they reside, pursuant to the ordinary 
laws governing the same ; and they shall have the 
right to appear before such courts and to pursue 
the same course as citizens of the country to which 
the courts belong. 


Article XII 

Judicial proceedings pending at the time of the 
exchange of ratifications of this treaty in the terri¬ 
tories over which Spain relinquishes or cedes her 
sovereignty shall be determined according to the 
following rules : 

1. Judgments rendered either in civil suits between 
private individuals, or in criminal matters, before the 
date mentioned, and with respect to which there is 
no recourse or right of review under the Spanish 
law, shall be deemed to be final, and shall be exe¬ 
cuted in due form by competent authority in the ter¬ 
ritory within which such judgments should be carried 
out. 

2. Civil suits between private individuals which 
may on the date mentioned be undetermined shall 
be prosecuted to judgment before the court in which 

255 


Appendix 

they may then be pending, or in the court that may 
be substituted therefor. 

3. Criminal actions pending on the date mentioned 
before the Supreme Court of Spain against citizens 
of the territory which by this treaty ceases to be 
Spanish shall continue under its jurisdiction until 
final judgment; but, such judgment having been 
rendered, the execution thereof shall be committed 
to the competent authority of the place in which 
the case arose. 


Article XIII 

The rights of property secured by copyrights and 
patents acquired by Spaniards in the Island de Cuba, 
and in Porto Rico, the Philippines, and other ceded 
territories, at the time of the exchange of the ratifi¬ 
cations of this treaty, shall continue to be respected. 
Spanish scientific, literary, and artistic works, not sub¬ 
versive of public order in the territories in question, 
shall continue to be admitted free of duty into such 
territories, for the period of ten years, to be reckoned 
from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of 
this treaty. 

Article XIV 

Spain shall have the power to establish consular 
offices in the ports and places of the territories, the 
sovereignty over which has been either relinquished 
or ceded by the present treaty. 

256 


Appendix 

Article XV 

The government of each country will, for the term 
of ten years, accord to the merchant vessels of the other 
country the same treatment in respect of all port 
charges, including entrance and clearance dues, light 
dues and tonnage duties, as it accords to its own 
merchant vessels, not engaged in the coastwise trade. 

This article may at any time be terminated on 
six months’ notice given by either government to 
the other. 

Article XVI 

It is understood that any obligations assumed in 
this treaty by the United States with respect to Cuba 
are limited to the time of its occupancy thereof; but 
it will, upon the termination of such occupancy, 
advise any government established in the island to 
assume the same obligations. 

Article XVII 

The present treaty shall be ratified by the President 
of the United States, by and with the advice and con¬ 
sent of the Senate thereof, and by Her Majesty the 
Queen Regent of Spain ; and the ratifications shall 
be exchanged at Washington within six months from 
the date hereof, or earlier if possible. 

In faith whereof we, the respective plenipotenti¬ 
aries, have signed this treaty and have hereunto 
affixed our seals. 


17 


257 


Appendix 

Done in duplicate at Paris, the tenth day of 
December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and ninety-eight. 

William R. Day. 

Cushman K. Davis. 
William P. Frye. 

George Gray. 

Whitelaw Reid. 

Eugenio Montero Rios. 

B. de Abarzuza. 

J. DE GaRNICA. 

W. R. de Villa-Urrutia. 
Rafael Cerero. 


258 


Notable and Timely 


Second Edition, including Battles of Cavite and 
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The book is a charming one, and is written in a most 
interesting and happy style. It is handsomely illustrated 
with maps of cities and mountain scenery, and no one can 
take it up without being thoroughly delighted. — The 
Christian Work. 


For sale by all book dealers , or sent , postpaid , upon 
receipt of price , by the Publishers , 

A. S. BARNES & CO. 

156 Fifth Avenue, New York 





Mme. Bompiani's JValdensians 


THE 

ITALIAN WALDENSES 

3 *3>ljort tbiston* 

By SOPHIA V. BOMPIANI 
One volume) i2mo , cloth. Illustrated 
Price, $i.oo 


The book as a whole is extremely interesting to all stu¬ 
dents of history or religion. — The Outlook. 

Madame Bompiani tells the story of incredible suffering 
and endurance with great enthusiasm. — Philadelphia 
Ledger. 

The Waldenses must always remain an attractive people, 
not merely to students of history, but to the popular mind. 
Their heroism, martyrdom, and struggle for freedom serve 
to give their story more than the dry details of history. . . . 
A most interesting book. — The Christian Index. 


For sale by all book dealers , or sent, postpaid , upon 
receipt of price , by the Publishers , 

A. S. BARNES & CO. 

156 Fifth Avenue, New York 





Mrs. Burton Harrison's Greater Ne<w York 


EXTERNALS 

OF 

MODERN NEW YORK 

By MRS. BURTON HARRISON 
One volume, small quarto, cloth. Illustrated 
Price, $3.00 net 


It is fully illustrated with thumb-nail sketches and full- 
page half-tones. A work at once unique and important. — 
The Evangelist. 

A very interesting volume, marked by the thoroughness, 
accuracy, and literary skill which we expect in every pro¬ 
duction of Mrs. Harrison’s pen. — New York Sun. 

Mrs. Harrison accepts the New York of to-day as pos¬ 
sessed of what must for long be the final aspects of 
America’s chief city, which not only remains the centre of 
the nation’s commerce and finance, but has become also 
the centre of its art and notably its architecture .—New 
York Times. 


For sale by all book dealers, or sent, postpaid, upon 
receipt of price, by the Publishers, 

A. S. BARNES & CO. 

156 Fifth Avenue, New York 





THE 


LATER ENGLISH DRAMA 

EDITED BY 

CALVIN S. BROWN 


The object of this book is to present in accessible 
form what has been done best in the field of Eng¬ 
lish dramatic literature from Goldsmith to the 
present time. For this purpose the following six 
representative plays, all of which still retain a place 
on the stage, have been selected and carefully 
annotated: 

Goldsmith 

She Stoops to Conquer 
Sheridan 

The Rivals 

The School for Scandal 
Knowles 

Virginius 

Bulwer-Lytton 

The Lady of Lyons 
Richelieu 

A brief introduction presents an outline of the 
English drama from the time of Shakespeare to the 
present. 

Library Edition , in tvuo volumes , net y $2.00 
Students' Edition , in one volume , net y $ 1.20 

Single plays, net, 35 cents 

A. S. BARNES & CO. 

156 Fiftij A-Yenue, New York 



Just Published 


BIRD GODS 

By CHARLES DE KAY 
With Decorations by George Wharton Edwards 
Size, 5^x7%; 273 pp; i2mo, cloth, gilt top 
Price, $2.00 


From the “ New York Times Saturday Review 
November 29, 1898. 

... Its manner is very charming and its matter is fruit¬ 
ful in suggestion. The most successful chapters are those 
that show how the cuckoo, the woodpecker, and the swan 
have entered into European mythology and given rise to 
such hero-gods as Cuchullaind and Pikker. It is indeed in 
the information gained of these and other mythical demi¬ 
gods of Northern Europe, and of their relations to the 
familiar names of classic mythology, that the interest and 
value of the book chiefly lie, and in this respect its interest 
and value are very great. 

The volume is sumptuously made. The value of the book 
as a work of reference is greatly enhanced by an unusually 
elaborate index. [Signed] Ernest Ingersoll. 

From the “ St. Louis Globe-Democrat.' 1 ' 1 

There has been published a multitude of bird books, but 
Charles de Kay has produced one entirely different from all 
that has preceded it. It is not only a study of birds, but of 
the evolution of a phase of religion. 


For sale by all booksellers, or sent by mail, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the Publishers, 

A. S. BARNES & CO. 

156 Fifth Avenue, New York 





Rod's Salvation* 


BY 


$ 


ANNIE ELIOT TRUMBULL. 


Illustrated by Charles Copeland. i2mo, cloth, 


285 pages. $1.00. 


-$• ^ 


The volume entitled “ Rod’s Salvation,” contains four 
short stories, some of which are long enough to be fairly 
called novelets. . . . “ Rod’s Salvation ” is a good picture of 
‘ longshore life, telling of the devotion of a sister to a 
scapegrace brother and well worthy a reading. — Spring- 
field Republican. 

Miss Trumbull is blessed by a most delightful and 
unpretentious gift of story-telling. Her work suggests a 
twilight musician; she has a certain dainty humor in her 
touch. — The Citizen. 

“ Rod’s Salvation ” appears to us the most interesting 
sketch of the four in the present volume. It proves a 
thorough comprehension of the noblest characteristics of 
the inhabitants of the typical New England fishing village. 
The author shows us diamonds in the rough, and with a 
most happy talent, suddenly reveals to us the gleaming 
beauties beneath their rude exterior. “ Rod’s Salvation ” is 
an inspiring story, the pathos of which is accentuated by 
the delicate satire, exquisite humor, and touches of kindly 
human nature which lead one up to the unexpected climax. 
— The Church Review. 


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